tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32775449659132839802024-02-07T10:12:08.709-08:00The Outsourced Billing ExpertsOur 20+ years in business has afforded us a great deal of insight and understanding of the challenges of medical billing and reimbursement. So, whether you are an existing AMBS client, considering utilizing our services or just want to stay "in the know," follow our blog to keep better informed.Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-58144662409205115302013-08-26T16:55:00.002-07:002013-08-26T16:55:41.473-07:0023 Years of Nationwide, cost effective medical billing services<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/two-decades-of-nationwide-cost-effective-medical-billing-services-celebrated-by-ambs-inc-220651661.html">http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/two-decades-of-nationwide-cost-effective-medical-billing-services-celebrated-by-ambs-inc-220651661.html</a>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-30233047351792002542013-06-10T19:26:00.000-07:002013-06-10T19:30:14.682-07:00Practice profitability outlook negativeAs you consider your overhead, and administrative costs - always do the math on outsourcing - this current article outlines the year ahead and some lower profit challenges for medical practices: <a href="http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/practice-profitability-outlook-negative"></a>
Make sure to have someone assist you with the true billing costs for in-house, and to outsource your billing process.<br />
<br />
Here's a compelling article regarding the profitability outlook for the private practice: <a href="http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/practice-profitability-outlook-negative">HealthCareFinanceNews</a><br />
<br />
Greg Jones
VP
<a href="http://www.ambsinc.com/">www.AMBSinc.com</a> Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-82871719303341786902012-12-05T12:33:00.001-08:002012-12-05T12:33:27.009-08:00Emails and a Chiropractic practicehttp://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=56251Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-45830579199056796822012-10-10T11:42:00.004-07:002012-10-10T11:46:34.574-07:00New Ways to Boost Collections and Revenues of Private Practice Disclosed<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/New-Ways-to-Boost-Collections-and-Revenues-of-3927611.php">New Ways to Boost Collections and Revenues of Private Practice Disclosed</a>
Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-49399220953341175462012-07-30T10:33:00.003-07:002012-07-30T10:33:49.085-07:006 steps successful practice managers follow to maximize revenue<a href="http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/6-steps-successful-practice-managers-do-keep-revenue-coming"></a>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-25369426748881443472012-05-30T18:58:00.001-07:002012-05-30T18:58:18.948-07:00Leaders press congress for medicare reimbursement reformhttp://www.mcknights.com/healthcare-leaders-press-congress-for-medicare-reimbursement-reform/article/243276/Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-87795743232269096452012-05-07T08:28:00.000-07:002012-05-30T18:57:11.107-07:00http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/12604/1711/icd-10-%20by%20the%20numbers/<a href="http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/12604/1711/icd-10-%20by%20the%20numbers/"></a>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-27027947741664065302012-03-29T10:19:00.002-07:002012-03-29T10:19:41.697-07:00<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #143d8d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have You Completed
Your 5010 Implementation? </span><o:p></o:p></h2>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">There are steps to ensure that your upgrade
is a smooth one: establish a line of credit and check partner readiness </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
announced it will not initiate enforcement action against any HIPAA covered
entity for an additional three (3) months, through <b>June 30, 2012</b>,for the
updated HIPAA transaction standards (ASC X12 Version 5010, NCPDP Versions D.0
and 3.0).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Although much progress has been made in the successful receipt
and processing of claims in the Version 5010 format, CMS is aware that there
are still challenges and issues impeding an industry wide upgrade.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">During these additional 90 days in which CMS will not initiate
enforcement penalties, you should collaborate more closely with trading
partners on appropriate strategies to resolve any remaining problems. Two steps
providers can take to ensure a smooth upgrade are:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Establishing a line of credit: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To avoid potential cash flow disruptions, providers
should consider establishing or increasing a line of credit. By doing so,
they can prepare for possible delays and denials in payer claims
reimbursements if noncompliant Version 5010 transactions are submitted.<b> </b></span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Check partner readiness: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because a provider's Version 5010 upgrade can be
dependent upon his or her vendor, it is important for providers to be
aware of their vendor's transition status. If your vendor is behind
schedule for Version 5010 adoption, get confirmation of their timeline to
be compliant, and encourage them to take action so that your system will
be prepared to handle your claims. <b> </b></span> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
<div style="line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Other steps to prepare for the Version 5010 upgrade can be found
on the Version 5010: Ensuring a Smooth Transition Fact Sheet, which provides an
overview of several actions providers can take to maintain continuity of
operations for their practices as they prepare to complete Version 5010
testing.<br />
<br />
<b>Keep Up to Date on Version 5010 and ICD-10.</b> <br />
Please visit the ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you
prepare, and to download and share the implementation widget today!</span><o:p></o:p></div>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-84328039820407490362012-03-14T06:46:00.001-07:002012-03-14T06:46:22.221-07:00<br />
<h3 class="title" style="background-color: white; color: #204758; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.8em; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
HIPAA 5010 Transition Problems</h3>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.grouponehealthsource.com/blog/bid/53819/HIPAA-5010-Transition-Problems">http://www.grouponehealthsource.com/blog/bid/53819/HIPAA-5010-Transition-Problems</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="background-color: white; color: #204758; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.6em !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<b>Many Physicians experience problems during 5010 Transition</b></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">
On January 1, 2012, all electronically submitted HIPAA covered health insurance claims were supposed to be submitted using the 5010 platform. Although CMS had previously announced it would not take any enforcement action against any plan or provider who was not 5010 ready until after March 1, 2012, the January 1 deadline for compliance remained in effect.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">
Perhaps the most consistent reports heard during the transition were that the problems – whatever they were – were someone else’s fault. Clearinghouses blamed Health Plans (both commercial and government) and Health Plans blamed providers, clearinghouses or practice management software programs. There were so many fingers being pointed at others over the past two months, it is a wonder there wasn’t a major up-tick in the number patients showing up in ERs with broken fingers!</div>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-27996315855644005372012-03-08T08:59:00.002-08:002012-03-08T13:29:31.170-08:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDEVk4mWfds7ZUw97qqQnwZlEc6rkLZ7sIMCR-HRrKJUHtb84bPBmdLfcvcrRrdWMVgoeRwp-Y5jKB14F6cL1CEjR7zO0nTUt1BwFgwRzYhhcfpowCQ-zMNuocHKNn2FEaYLpswxcO7IB/s1600/HIPAA-5010.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDEVk4mWfds7ZUw97qqQnwZlEc6rkLZ7sIMCR-HRrKJUHtb84bPBmdLfcvcrRrdWMVgoeRwp-Y5jKB14F6cL1CEjR7zO0nTUt1BwFgwRzYhhcfpowCQ-zMNuocHKNn2FEaYLpswxcO7IB/s1600/HIPAA-5010.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://blog.healthfusion.com/index.php/health-topics/health-policy/5010-update-how-the-government-and-blues-have-botched-the-5010-claims-transition-where-is-my-check-and-how-do-i-make-payroll/" rel="bookmark" style="color: #444444; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Permanent Link to 5010 Update — How the Government and Blues have botched the 5010 claims transition (Where is my check, and how do I make payroll?)"><span style="font-size: small;">5010 Update — How the Government and Blues have botched the 5010 claims transition (Where is my check, and how do I make payroll?)</span></a></h1>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://blog.healthfusion.com/index.php/health-topics/health-policy/5010-update-how-the-government-and-blues-have-botched-the-5010-claims-transition-where-is-my-check-and-how-do-i-make-payroll/">http://blog.healthfusion.com/index.php/health-topics/health-policy/5010-update-how-the-government-and-blues-have-botched-the-5010-claims-transition-where-is-my-check-and-how-do-i-make-payroll/</a>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-17523643910286833432012-03-08T08:43:00.004-08:002012-03-08T09:01:24.080-08:00<span style="font-size: large;">Using social media to build your practice</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/03/07/tips-using-social-media-effectively-healthcare">http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/03/07/tips-using-social-media-effectively-healthcare</a>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-20567414591411035262012-03-08T08:40:00.006-08:002012-03-08T09:01:50.308-08:00<span style="font-size: large;">Is this Billable Time?</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mcknights.com/is-this-billable-time/article/231098/">http://www.mcknights.com/is-this-billable-time/article/231098/</a>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-2299977566545169972012-03-08T08:40:00.004-08:002012-03-08T08:40:22.622-08:00A clean sweep<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/12352/1669/a%20clean%20sweep/">http://www.chiroeco.com/chiropractic/news/12352/1669/a%20clean%20sweep/</a>
<br />
<br />
<br />Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-25798203659375602152011-09-13T20:46:00.000-07:002011-09-13T20:46:00.550-07:00Physicians Must Post Prices For Walk-Ins Says New LawDoctors may be shocked to find out they could be fined up to $1,000 a day for not posting fees for patients without appointments. The new "Health Care Transparency Bill" just passed by the Florida Legislature, requires the posting of rates charged by urgent care centers, walk-in clinics and any physicians who accept walk-ins. According to the new law, prices for the top most common procedures of the clinics must be displayed visibly in order to avoid steep fines. <br />
<br />
Physicians and other health care providers can learn how this law applies to their practices and how to avoid compliance traps at a free webinar, "Posting Your Prices: Does the New Law Apply to You?" on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 from 5-6 p.m. To register, go <a href="http://https//www2.gotomeeting.com/synchOutlook?wid=605951626&uid=105764445" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
<br />
Although the law took effect on July 1, 2011, many health care providers are unaware of the new regulation and its possible pitfalls, says Lester Perling, a partner with the Fort Lauderdale office of the statewide law firm Broad and Cassel. <br />
<br />
"Although intended for Urgent Care Centers, this law also could apply to any clinic that accepts walk-ins, including existing patients," he said. "Practices can incur fines of up to $10,000 per day for not complying with this regulation." <br />
<br />
In addition to Perling, speakers for the webinar include Attorney Alan Gassman of Clearwater, Fla.-based Gassman, Bates & Associates, P.A., and Dr. Pariksith Singh. <br />
<br />
Gassman is a board-certified estate planning lawyer who assists physicians, primarily on the west coast of Florida, with their practices and personal estate planning needs. In practice for 27 years, Gassman is a frequent author and speaker on topics related to asset protection and tax planning. <br />
<br />
The immediate past chair of the Florida Bar's Health Law Section, Perling is a board-certified health law attorney, member of The Joint Commission's Home Care Professional and Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC), and author of the <i>Medicare Claims Appeals Process Handbook. </i> <br />
<br />
Board-certified physician Dr. Singh is the CEO of Access Health Care, LLC, a multi-specialty group of approximately 85 providers in Florida, and CEO of Access 2 Health Care, LLC, an IPA that manages more than 15,000 managed care lives in Florida. <br />
<br />
Source: <br />
Broad and Cassel <a href="" name="ratethis"></a>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3277544965913283980.post-3863571845158733362011-06-21T10:40:00.000-07:002011-06-21T10:41:51.231-07:00Need a good start to find out if your practice can stomach outsourcing?<div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000066; font-size: small;"><b>"OUTSOURCING YOUR BILLING FUNCTION AND KEY DECISION POINTS"</b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As a practice owner or manager, you have to look closely at your internal situation before you can even decide whether outsourcing makes sense. You have to review your environment, financial and staffing scenarios before moving the next decision process; hiring an outside billing firm. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Because the medical billing industry has been inundated over the years with home-based start ups, and offshore entities, many health care practitioners have been burned by inexperienced billing service providers. The barrier to entry for the billing industry has been fairly low, which is why practice owners need to dig in much deeper when deciding if they should outsource, and how to decide who is qualified to be a good fit for their practice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;"><b>This is one of the most comprehensive checklists in the industry. Use this now as a tool to do the proper due diligence in making what can be a game changing decision for your practice. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">This checklist was developed through a collaboration of health care providers, IT vendors, and the billing/consulting firm, AMBS, Inc., a Nationwide, 20 year billing service provider (</span><a href="http://www.ambsinc.com/"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">www.AMBSinc.com</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> ). Bryan Towns, President of AMBS, a published contributor to numerous industry articles, has been consulting and advising hundreds of health care providers over the last 20 years, with best practice approaches to effective outsourcing and cost reduction measures.</span><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;"><u>Here are some of key things you will learn in this common sense and comprehensive FREE checklist</u>:</span></b></div><ul style="background-color: white;"><li><div><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;">Critical metrics you should be asking your inhouse biller/Office Manager or current billing company, to quickly determine the overall "health of your practice"</span></div></li>
<li><div><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;">How to know what your cost savings or revenue enhancement will be by outsourcing</span></div></li>
<li><div><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;">What to consider when setting up your in-house billing team</span></div></li>
<li><div><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;">AND Much MORE</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="center" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Complete the form <a href="http://www.theoutsourcechecklist.com/">HERE,</a> and we will email this checklist to you immediately.</b></span></div><div align="center" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><u>Make sure to check your <span style="color: red;">JUNK/SPAM</span> folder for this Checklist</u></b></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></b></span>Greg Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325251288674120098noreply@blogger.com0