Welcome

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Welcome to my new blog - All Things Medical Office!  Here you will find links to articles for medical office professionals including articles I have written for About.com Medical Office and Ask a Medical Biller. Thank you for following and please feel free to comment.

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Popular posts from this blog

Has Your Medical Bill Been Denied by Insurance? Try These Strategies

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Do you have medical bills that your insurance company doesn’t want to pay? You have several options as you explore different ways to pay the bills.  If your insurance company won’t pay the bill, consider these ideas: 1. Understand the out-of-network rules. Receiving care out-of-network is one of the most common reasons an insurance company denies payment. • Did you go to a hospital, clinic, or doctor who is outside of your network? Insurance companies have strict rules for what they will cover. They may not want to pay for hospitals or doctors who aren’t part of their network. • Unless you had an emergency that couldn’t be treated at an in-network provider, you may not be able to get the insurance company to pay.  • Your city or state may have specific rules that can force insurance companies to pay for out-of-network services in emergency situations. However, you may still be responsible for some of the charges.  2. Negotiate your payment. If your insurance c...
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Strategies to Lower Your Medical Bills

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With health care costs rising, it's natural that more people want to lower their medical spending. According to Consumer Reports, only 31% of Americans try to negotiate the price of medical bills, but those who do usually succeed in saving big money. These are some methods that will help. Understanding Medical Charges and Discounts 1. Become familiar with routine discounts. Doctors and hospitals typically give discounts of as much as 60% to Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance companies. As an individual, you may have less leverage than the big payers, but you can usually save significant money by negotiating. 2. Look for the CPT code. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are the standard codes maintained by the American Medical Association. They're what billing departments use to determine the charges for any procedure. Once you know the CPT codes, you can comparison shop. 3. Know that it's okay to negotiate. Many health care providers are getting used to pa...
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Protect Your Peace of Mind With Advance Health Care Directives and Living Wills

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Do you want to ensure that your wishes and beliefs are upheld in your medical care? Advance health care directives instruct others about your wishes concerning medical treatment, should you become unable to communicate them yourself. Documenting your plans can give you greater peace of mind and make decisions easier for your loved ones in potentially stressful situations. Here are some steps that will help you create these important documents. Learn the Importance of Advance Health Care Directives: 1. Have your wishes and beliefs honored. It's natural to feel uncomfortable thinking about physical incapacity and death, but it's comforting to know that you can exercise some control. You'll feel more secure if you take every possible step to ensure that the medical care you receive is consistent with your personal values and beliefs. 2. Relieve your loved ones of unnecessary burdens. It's difficult for your loved ones to know what you want unless you talk with ...
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