Finding HIPAA Compliant Medical Billing Software

 

These days, it’s simply not enough to ensure your patients are being well cared for.  You must now give serious consideration to the economic facets of the business.  There are many providers out there with some form of electronic record-keeping methods for keeping track of the bills.  However, with HIPAA regulations now requiring that information be secured by certain standards, the task of keeping up can be a chore.

Why is this all so important?  As of 1996, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations listed seven sets of guidelines which will change the way you do business.  No matter how big or small your organization is, you will be required to comply with all current and future HIPAA security and privacy directives.  Thus, when searching for HIPPA compliant medical billing software, there are many things to take into account.

Here are some questions you should consider when purchasing medical billing software:

  • Are you simply a billing service or are you an actual provider?  Believe it or not, this makes a big difference in the features to look for in your purchase.
  • How many people will use the software?  Several vendor’s software products limit you to a set number of people who can access the data.  Also, make sure the application you buy allows you upgrade to add on additional people later on if needed.  It’s important when buying software to consider both your current needs and what could lie ahead.
  • If you are a specialty clinic, you may want to stay away from software for general offices.  If you specialize in optometry, get HIPAA compliant medical billing software made for an optometrist’s office.  If you are a pediatrician, choose a product made for pediatricians.
  • How much does the software cost upfront?  Will you need to invest any money into it later?  A good rule of thumb is this: the more sophisticated your setup, the more money that should be invested.
  • Is the software simple to understand?  Nothing’s worse than buying a program to make things easier and wondering why you wasted your money on something so complicated.  If at all possible, download or request a trial version.
  • How detailed and flexible are the reports?  This one is very important.  Can reports be customized?  Can you create your own reports?  How does the software handle aging reports? How much time does it take to make a customized report?  Can you save the format?
  • Is the data secure?  With HIPAA policies now requiring information to be secured by certain standards, it is ever so important to know that only authorized people will have access to sensitive information.

Purchasing the right HIPAA compliant medical billing software can be tricky.  But making a good, sound decision can keep your organization heading down the right road for a long time to come.  Good luck!