DrChrono

A big plus for this particular software vendor lies in its integration capabilities. By integrating medical billing with DrChrono, patient information only needs to be entered once, and that data can then be automatically stored and passed on to billing. This helps save time as well as reduce human errors that inevitably come with the constant manual entry of data. Users can also view billing reports and analytics to measure your practice’s performance and identify problem areas, all without having to leave the DrChrono platform.

Aside from its EHR, DrChrono’s medical billing is able to integrate with trusted clearinghouses such as Emedon and Trizetto for tasks like submitting claims and billing processing. These clearinghouses use claim scrubbing to check claims for any mistakes, preventing processing errors which can be very time-consuming. This integration allows clearinghouses the ability to submit claims directly to the payers.

In addition to its integration capabilities, DrChrono medical billing can check copays and insurance eligibility on-site or in bulk prior to an appointment to guarantee payment is met. When coverage is denied, the software can point out which types of services or codes are causing denials and make updates to reduce future denials.

DrChrono’s patient statement tool generates billing statements for patients automatically. These statements can be searched and filtered into subgroups based on patient name, active patients, demographics and patient flags.

NextGen Office

Another popular cloud-based medical billing vendor is NextGen Office (formerly MediTouch). This particular cloud-based software is available for individual, small- and medium-sized healthcare practices. NextGen Office deals with patient scheduling, claims management, claims submissions, as well as payment scheduling and planning.

NextGen Office’s scheduling tools allow users to search for appointments, manage patient requests, view staff calendars and more. Staff calendars can be centralized to make booking appointments simpler, while office tasks such as patient check-ins, eligibility checks and payments can all be automated.

NextGen Office stands out compared to others is due to its ability to work with virtually any type of healthcare facility. In addition to primary and urgent care, NextGen Office supports a number of medical specialties such as dentistry, mental and behavioral health, psychiatry, OB/GYN, podiatry, pediatrics and rehab therapy.

Like other medical billing software, NextGen Office contains a claim-scrubbing feature to optimize claims in real time at any stage to prevent claim denials. Claims are checked for missing or incorrect data before they are submitted electronically. On average, 65 percent of denied claims are left unresolved by practices, while nearly 30 percent of a medical practice’s income is lost as a result of billing errors. NextGen Office’s predictive billing rules engine recognizes and alters incorrect coding charges early into the revenue cycle to prevent these issues from befalling you.

athenaCollector

As one of the cheaper options in terms of this comparison, athenaCollector deals with patient registration, appointment scheduling, patient check-in, practice management, billing and claims management as well as performance reporting. This medical billing and practice management software caters to healthcare facilities of all sizes.

Like so many others, athenaCollector uses claims management to eliminate any errors before claims are submitted. And it’s one of the most successful, too, boasting a 95 percent first-pass resolution rate. In addition, payment can be collected and patient insurance can be verified in advance or on-site at the time of service.

In terms of scheduling, athenaCollector can automatically set appointments and send out reminders and notifications to patients, allowing clinicians to get through appointments quicker and increase overall daily traffic.

Using athenaCollector’s workflow dashboard, users can access revenue cycle tasks and patient information all in a single location. With the performance reporting tool, the software can study and learn from common mistakes made throughout the network’s 100,000-odd customers and flag errors for revision. In addition, you can find out how your clinicians compare to other practitioners regarding productivity.

Upon implementation, athenaCollector offers initial provider setup and configuration as well as ongoing credentialing and maintenance.

Kareo Practice Management

Kareo Practice Management is another cloud-based billing software for small- to medium-sized practices which caters to individual specialized providers in mental health, behavioral health, physical therapy and more. The primary functions of Kareo include patient registration and scheduling, secure messaging system, billing and charge management, billing collections, billing analytics and performance reporting.

Kareo’s scheduling tool helps to manage and track your practice’s entire schedule, from clinicians and patient visits to exam rooms and specialty equipment. With a built-in secure messaging system, communication is supported between the biller, patients and employees.

Common billing codes can be set up as reusable billing templates. As far as managing claims, Kareo deals with the scrubbing, tracking and submission of claims; facilities can also receive electronic payments and resolve any billing issues quickly and easily.

Kareo has over 70 pre-built reports with custom filters and reporting options, offering visual pointers of various key performance indicators such as cash flow, billing effectiveness and past performance comparisons. Another helpful tool is Kareo’s agenda, where you can view a summary of the schedule of patients as well as collect payments and run eligibility checks.

One thing to note about Kareo is that its software is not browser-based; the application needs to be downloaded and installed before it can be accessed. Data is then stored in Kareo’s data centers rather than locally in one’s own device.