This document discusses how thoracic and cardiovascular surgery practices can streamline their medical billing processes. It emphasizes that hiring experienced medical billers and coders who understand thoracic and cardiovascular procedures, coding guidelines, and billing rules is essential. It also stresses the importance of using an integrated practice management system that seamlessly connects electronic health records, billing software, and billing functions. Such a system can help properly code and submit claims, monitor denials and accounts receivable, and produce necessary reports. The document evaluates criteria for selecting a practice management system and suggests how an online service can help thoracic and cardiovascular practices streamline billing according to meaningful use standards.

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Streamlining Your Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Medical
Billing Practices with Integrated PMS
Practice in Thoracic and cardiovascular surgery means expensive facilities that often need to be
upgraded to clinical innovations. Despite such expensive cost outlays, continued shortage of
physicians may still have allowed them to see more patients, thereby garnering revenues well
over capital expenditure. But, severity of health care reforms and Medical Billing challenges has
not allowed physicians in thoracic and cardiovascular practice to realize their dues fully. While
Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance fee schedules have greatly been reduced these days,
accountability in terms of coding compliance, meaningful use of information technology, and
reporting under accountable care organization model (ACO) has increased beyond the control of
traditional practice management. As a result health care practitioners, particularly thoracic and
cardiovascular surgery practitioners may need to streamline their medical billing in order to
remain financially healthy.
Primary prerequisite to streamline thoracic and cardiovascular surgery medical billing is to have
competent and experienced billers and coders who are adept at applying correct ICD-CM, CPT,
HCPCS Level II and modifier coding assignments to thoracic and cardiovascular surgical
procedures; evaluation and management of documentation guidelines; Medicare billing rules and
regulations on coding of surgical procedures performed by thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons;
familiarity with medical terminology associated with Thoracic and Cardiovascular specialty; and
proficiency in Thoracic & Cardiovascular anatomy and physiology.
Equally important is to have such billing staff oriented to electronic practice management systems
that have effectively replaced paper and manual process of billing, coding, and submission of
claims. The unique value proposition of an integrated practice management system is that allows
physicians to streamline their medical billing and other administrative tasks without requiring the
time and expenses of setting up their own IT architectures. Therefore, it is crucial that Thoracic &
Cardiovascular Surgical practices chose practice management systems that are integrated with
seamlessly integrated with electronic health records and medical billing software in order to
streamline medical billing and other administrative functions. Further, it is imperative that such
systems conform to Federal security requirements and HIPPA regulations.
Here is a list of capabilities that you seek while selecting an integrated practice management
system for your Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgical practice:

2. End to End Medical Billing Solutions
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• Can it process third-party payer claims with reduced occurrence of errors and
realize claims within permissible time limit?
• Whether it can accomplish insurance verification and authorizations?
• Does it facilitate monitoring, and following up on denied claims and collections
under account receivable status?
• Is it capable of producing reports for audits and reporting requirement?
• Is it flexible enough to adjust to operational requirements?
• Is it scalable to suit your evolving operational size and volumes?
The significance of verifying your prospective practice management systems against the checklist
stated above is that it saves you from making inadvertent decision. Thoracic & Cardiovascular
surgical practices on the verge of streamlining their medical billing practices may even have to rely
on external sources while migrating to integrated practice management systems.
Medicalbillersandcoders.com – with resource capability and strategic partnership with credible
practice management systems manufacturers and vendors – might just be the platform to engage
with right choices for streamlining your Thoracic & Cardiovascular surgery medical billing, and
expect:
• To get your patient information transferred over secure software platforms,
thereby conforming to HIPAA rules and regulations for patient health
information and data transfer.
• To have your bills accurately coded, billed, and processed electronically in time
to be submitted to insurance carriers.
• Expedite the process of claim realization, resubmission, follow-up and
conversion of account receivables.
• To be assisted with quality medical billing reports comprising of patient
demographics, referrals, coding, insurance verifications, account receivables
and collection.
• And more importantly, show up as conforming to Meaningful Use of EHR,
which not only saves you from being penalized but also help qualify for
monetary incentives.