Medical Billing - Picking Your Software

In the many previous installments of medical billing that we have been through, we have discussed just about everything there is to discuss about medical billing software, such as what it can do, how to find problems and how to use it. But one thing we haven't covered, which is probably the most important thing of all, is how to choose your medical billing software. There are many brands out there. So how do you know which is the best one for your needs? Hopefully, after reading this installment, you'll have a decent idea of how to pick out your medical billing software if you haven't already done so.

The first thing you have to do is look at the size of your company and your computer setup. This is important for several reasons.

For starters, not all software packages run on all platforms. So if you're running a network on Mac computers, don't buy a software package that is made for Windows platforms. If you're running a peer to peer network, don't buy a software package that specifically says that it is for star based networks or similar client server networks.

As for the size of your network, if you have a company of 100 users, don't buy a software package that is limited to 50 user licenses. Conversely, if you only have five users in your company, it is wasteful to buy a software package that is specifically designed for companies with hundreds of users. You won't need all that power.

The next thing you have to look at is what your actual billing needs are. If you are a DME billing company, you're not going to have need for software that also does dental claims. You'll be paying for functionality that you don't need. Conversely, if you plan to bill all kinds of medical claims, then you better make sure that you get a software package that is going to handle all those claims. Adding on to a package at a later date is not always an easy thing to do.

The next thing that you want to look at is what extras the software company is going to provide for you, such as forms. Forms are a very big part of medical billing and there are a ton of them. If the software company will also provide you these forms at a reduced cost, then it might be worth it to go with them even if the software is not 100% what you're looking for, as long as it is close enough. Conversely, if another company will offer you forms and the one you're looking at won't, it may be wiser to go with the other company, if the software is at least close enough to what you want.

The next thing you need to look at is price and what you can afford. If your perfect software is way above your means, especially if you're a small company, then you might want to go for something that is a step down. You don't need all the bells and whistles to do this job.

Finally, you need to look at the support record of the company. Find out if there have been any complaints against them. You can do this through the BBB.

If you do all of the above, you have a good chance of coming away with the medical billing software that is just right for you.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Medical Billing