Medical billing, a world of hurt: Error-prone system is a headache for insurers, doctors, patients

National reports show that 60% of medical bills created have errors in India. The world of billing problems is as vast as medicine itself. Many frequent complaints from patient side are: receiving double billing for the same treatment, being billed for the wrong treatment, getting a bill for unexpected costs etc. Problem comes because of human involvement in the entire process before billing creation. It’s generally an estimated that approximately  10-15 people are involved in generating a single patient bill, from the receptionist who collect the personal information from patients, doctors and nurses who treat the patient, pharmacy , lab and housekeeping who provide added services to the patient. So from a billing perspective it becomes very difficult to bill for 50 items in a single time.

Here are some examples of scenarios that happen all-too-often while creating billing:

1) Medical Error #1: Billing for procedures that were not performed

An old man received a bill for his annual physical examination. The charges included a line for a pap smear, which even general people know is a test that is only for women. Had he reviewed the bill right there at the time of discharge?  That charge would have been removed before the claim was ever sent in to the insurance. No generally people have tendency not to view at the same time while it gets created. When same bill will be produced for claim settlement and it won’t get reimbursed then the person will blame to hospital

2) Medical Billing Error #3: Duplicate charges

Hospital bill that itemized 55 of the same item at Rs.300 each. This item is something that no one could have done to them 55 times in the period of a four-day hospital admission. Can you make any guess? We're talking about a urinalysis process. Not only they charge very high, but the number of laboratory tests just didn't make any sense were done. If this patient had ever requested and had a glance of the bill, I'm pretty sure she would have picked this up.

3) Mistake #3: Not asking for itemized statements and then reviewing it

The best way to avoid medical bill errors is to make sure that the charges are correct. While no one expects you to be an expert in medical terminology but by requesting and reviewing a detailed itemized statement following every episode of care provided, you can easily avoid some of the general problems. Always take the time to ask for and look at an itemized bill. 

DocEngage provides complete itemized statements at the end of episodes what you request from the hospital at the checkout window.

DocEngage now has advanced billing features!! It is aimed at simplifying the billing process for doctor, concern staff and the patients. DocEngage provides benefit for doctors and concern staff in following manners:

·        Provide complete track of billing done for a particular patient

·        The ledger will give a complete overview of the total billed amount and total amount paid

·        Provide complete  track of the due amount

·        Settlement against advance payment can be made.

·        Payment can be made by the patient for a single invoice generated multiple times

·        Any time payment can be added

·        Provides notes option to write information related to the bill

·        Electronic tracking of payments

·        Doctor Will have a track on the revenue generated by him

·        Through care plan he/she can have a track of how many procedures has been completed

·        For how many procedures performed invoice has been generated

·        Transparent payment process