We all know the bread and butter of medical billing is handling claims. But, it’s not the only way to make money. If you’d like to expand your services, ClaimTek Systems’ MedOffice software is perfect for you. Our software allows you to:

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER (EFT)

THIRD-PARTY COLLECTION SERVICES

PATIENT WELL-CARE SERVICES

REMOTE BACKUP SERVICES (RBS)

DIGITAL SCANNING & ARCHIVING SOLUTIONS FOR MEDICAL RECORDS

SOFTWARE SALES, TRAINING & SUPPORT PLUS MONTHLY INCOME FROM

CLEARINGHOUSE COMMISSIONS!

Ready to hear more? Call 1-800-224-7450 to discuss how MedOffice will expand your income.

It’s the call nobody wants to make.

“My hard drive has crashed,” you cry.

To the rescue – the ClaimTek Remote Backup System where data is stored safely and securely offsite where it can be retrieved quickly and easily 24 hours a day.

Makes us want to wear a cape and tights or something.

Now let’s add one more super component to this: not only can you protect your data, but you can also earn money protecting your clients’ info. ClaimTek vendors enjoy great discounts, too. Everyone using a computer is a potential client.

See the link below for more information.

Click to see data storage

Here are some good ideas to consider.

Medical billing leaders often talk about patient visits, but your business can and should be much more than that. In fact, you can make money by just reminding people to see the doctor.

Well-care programs are increasingly popular for health care providers and are even mandated in some states. You can create a proactive patient outreach program that ensures patients don’t forget their appointment and create costly down time for health care providers.

ClaimTek Systems provides you with the materials and training necessary to start your own well-care program service. You’ll provide letters and postcards to remind patients of check-ups, testing, immunizations and more.

See the link below to see exactly how it works.

Click to see well care programs

You’ve taken the training, acquired the software, cleared the decks and now gained your first client.

Now what?

Surprisingly, some people never really think about this day – the one where they actually start working. It’s one thing to envision the business, but another to actually get going.

As part of ClaimTek Systems training, your personal trainer provides a free refresher course on the software and billing procedures for the specialty you’re just signed up. They’ll also ensure you handled all signup procedures have been followed, create your client’s database and oversee the first claims transmission.

All for free as part of your training.

Just another reason why many people have joined ClaimTek Systems when starting their medical billing company. After all, you’ll need someone who has your back. We do.

Running your own business is hard in the best of times. But what about the worst of times? What happens if you get sick or injured and can’t run the business? If someone needs you for awhile? There are many things that can happen. Hey, you might even want to take a vacation.

What happens to your business?

ClaimTek Systems offers Emergency Support Service to help billing centers in such situations. We can handle your business while you’re gone to keep your clients satisfied.

This service is only available to those using our MedOffice and MedOffice Remote software. Give us a call. Help is only a phone call away.

We’re all looking for more ways to make money. The best way is gaining new clients.

Have you thought about dentists?

It’s funny how we often forget about the tooth man. Maybe because he scares us. But, dentists are clearly behind in electronic billing. In fact, my own dentist doesn’t even have a computer. They do everything by hand – really! My dentists says he’s 72 and doesn’t see the need to switch over before retiring.

OK, there’s no converting the guy who has his fingers in my mouth, but there are plenty of others out there. They just need someone to show them what they’re missing.

And, ClaimTek Systems has the billing software geared for dentists. Don’t worry, it’s not radically different than other health care professionals. It’s all in the coding, as you know.

Just call our staff now to discuss how to expand your business with our dental software. Call 1-800-224-7450.

There’s an amazing opportunity for your website to be ranked higher on Google. It seems web browsers for smart phones have trouble with sites that haven’t been optimized. Those using flash-based content on landing pages aren’t usable on smart phones like Apple’s I-phone.

What’s the big deal? Mobile web use is increasing – by 34 percent from July 2008-09. They are gaining increasing use over computers. You don’t want to be frozen out. Indeed, Google uses a separate search index for mobile content and it’s empty compared to the web index. You could rank very high in mobile content right now.

How can you do it? Check out this article.

Reasons to optimize your website for mobile phones

There isn’t exactly a survey on the best and worst states for medical billers, but we’ve found what works for heath care providers is often good for us, too.

According to PhysiciansPractice.com, Alaska is the best state for health care providers when it comes to Medicare payments. Northern California is the second best region, followed by New Jersey, New York City and Washington, D.C.

Now if you’re looking for a cheap place to live, Oklahoma ranks first over Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia and Kansas respectively.

Looking for somewhere without state taxes? Try Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

And where are medical boards most friendly? Minnesota, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

Tomorrow: The worst places

We know, every time you mention new technology with health care providers, their eyes glisten over as they groan. First, they don’t want to learn it. Second, they don’t want to spend more money.

Start the next conversation like this – “A UnitedHealth Group study says the U.S. health care system will save $332 BILLION over the next decade through updated technology.”

$332 with a B Billion.

That ought to catch their attention. We’re not just talking about electronic health records. The study notes $109 billion using electronic funds transfers, another $47 billion in a national system to catch questionable claims. The use of common technology and information standards is the key.

Then, mention how your software with ClaimTek Systems is the leading edge of their new technology. If you want to see if you need further upgrades, call us at 1-800- 224-7450.

There are three things to know when managing a small business — money, staff and motivation. This short video transcends any business, but offers simple reminders of what you need to succeed.

It’s easy to get depressed about the economy. You have friends who have lost their jobs. Businesses are closing. Everybody wants to cut back.

Here’s a free piece of advice — don’t let the haters and quitters drag you down with them. You started a business to create and control your own financial freedom. OK, go do it. Medical billing is still a growth industry and those who work hard will succeed.

But we’re not just saying this. Here’s some other words of wisdom.

“The opportunities that have been created for those who remain disciplined in their approach are staggering. Remember: More millionaires were made during the Great Depression than any other era in U.S. history.”
— Timothy Walla, CFP
Walla Street Wealth Management
Overland Park, Kansas

Modern Medicine.com collected 150 tips from noted financial advisers to survive this downturn. Read a few. You’ll feel better.

The doctor asks a simple question that requires a complex answer.

“How can you help me?” they ask.

Don’t respond, “I can do it all” because that tells them nothing.

Sharpen your sales pitch by outlining exactly what you offer for practice management. We’re talking more than coding. We’re talking about becoming an essential part of the team that provides extra revenue streams to you.

Here’s a typical outline:

* Coding and reimbursements
* Medicare Audits
* Fee Schedule Reviews
* Computer Needs Assessment
* Billing and Collection Analysis
* Financial Controls
* Overhead Management
* OSHA compliance

Sharpen up those pencils. Work on these topics and go get some business.

ClaimTek Systems includes sales presentations and marketing as part of its support. Be sure to check the website ClaimTekSystems.com or call 1-800-224-7450 for more information.

Health providers are seeing six fewer patients per week than 2006 because of paperwork, according to Medicaleconomics.com.

Bet those doctors wish they had someone helping them more effectively. Someone . . . like you.

When making your presentation to physicians, the biggest two items they want to know is how much does it cost and how effective is it? We’ll talk about cost another day, but time is money and you’re about to show how they can have more time for patients, which means more money.

The study showed doctors are still working about 50 hours weekly, but seeing 104 patients instead of 110. The increased time away from patients comes from dealing with paperwork, the study revealed. Coding in particular was singled out for its time needs. Switching to electronic records didn’t help either in the short run because of start up needs.

So sharpen your pitch to the time issue. Show how you can make their practice more effective. Just don’t take a lot of time proving it.

Medical Economics

The folks at Physicians Practice.com write how automated appointment reminders are often viewed as a nuisance by patients. Then they go ahead and show them how to do it anyway.

Is that any way to run a business? Do something you know annoys clients.

This is another benefit to offering well management services  for doctors — the human touch. One revenue source is to take over patient reminders. You can mail a post card or handle calling. Either way, it’s not some robot that bothers people — that is, if they don’t hang up first. Doctors wonder why people don’t show. Maybe it’s because they hung up thinking it was another charity calling. You ensure a lower missed visit percentage.

You don’t work in the doctor’s office, but you have to deal with office politics. You’re on the phone with different workers. You occasionally visit. It’s easy to create alliances, partly for your own job security. It’s good business to be friendly with workers.

But, office politics can be your undoing. You can get caught off guard and pulled into a war you know nothing about.

How do you avoid this mess? Here are 4 ways to avoid losing business by minding your own business.

1. Don’t participate. Huh? Be deaf, dumb and blind when someone starts spreading the gossip. Every office has one. Avoid them at all costs because just one slip can prove costly. After all, if they’re telling you what others say, they’ll tell others what you say.

2. Don’t repeat gossip. Let is slide off you and end there. Sometimes we want to know if something is true and ask others. Remember what we said about being an unwitting accomplice? This is how it happens. You may not think it’s harmless, but best to just leave it alone.

3. Don’t hold a grudge. I often say if I was mad at everyone who did something wrong to me over my life, I’d have no one left to talk to. It’s not productive. Let the slights or blame game go. After all, you’re not in the office that much so you can ignore things rather than live with them or settle scores.

4. Treat everyone well. Everyone treats the boss well, but how many people give the same respect to the receptionist? You’ll be surprised how much loyalty and friendship comes from common courtesy. Make everyone your hero and you’ll be a king in their eyes. And, it’s good to be king.

Well, maybe it’s not the right way, but you’ll admit fantasizing over doing the same thing as this office video.

Hey, it’s Tuesday. There’s still time to have some fun during the week.

One of the great perks of electronic medical claims is working wherever you want. Admit it — you’re sitting in your home office wearing your jammies right now, aren’t you?

But, we strongly urge you to get out of the house at least once a week. First, it’s a mental freshener. Second, it’s a chance to build your business face to face.

There’s nothing better in building relationships than personal meetings. Short ones maybe, but there’s some truth to the old saying, “Out of face, out of mind.” You need to stop by offices if only to say hello. Of course, you want to do more than that.

Touch base with everyone in the office, especially someone new. Don’t be afraid to ask how they’re doing. You probably talk to these people on the phone all the time. Follow up by asking if there’s anything they need. Anything they want to talk about that’s harder on the phone?

You’ll be surprised what comes up. Extra business, usually. It’s easier to increase profits from existing clients than adding new ones.

Maybe you have them at hello.

A recent study showed 41 percent of doctor billings were overdue. Wow — they’re bleeding money.

Some doctors just write off the lost income, figuring it’s just part of the cost of business. What a shame.

But what if you could show doctors how to recover nearly half their income for just a fraction of the cost? Now who’s the miracle worker?

ClaimTek Systems can show you how to collect overdue accounts without jeopardizing the doctor-patient relationship? No more using “collection” agencies that often sour relationships. ClaimTek has a proven series of moves that will recover these funds while providing you with an added revenue stream. Well, more like a flood once you get going.

So how do you sell this service to doctors?

* You handle collection letters using the less-threatening office staff stationary rather than ABC Collections that scares people.

* A series of four proven letters sent at set times that increase collections. These letters are polite, but contain effective language that increases payments.

* Coordinating collections through an attorney, who can send a compelling letter as a final resort. These collections should be for a minimum $250.

* When payment is rendered, you send a final letter thanking them to increase future business.

How do you make money. Typically, you receive a small percentage of the money recovered — often 5 percent. Doctors will gladly pay it because, after all, it’s found money to them. You become even more invaluable to the doctor who now looks to you as a cure-all for his management’s needs.

Need to know more? Give ClaimTek Systems a call to discuss it.