Online Billing Companies One of our clients was spending $2,300.00 per month for an online billing service. The service provided him with several small computers that were equipped with a DOS-based (pre-Windows) billing program. Our client's office staff was still responsible for collecting all the patient information, inputting the data, generating the billing charges, and posting payments. The staff simply sent the completed claims over to the online billing company who then sent them on to a clearinghouse. In other words, our client paid $2,300.00 per month for nothing more than a very expensive clearinghouse service which you can get for $75.00 per provider per month for unlimited claims.  Is this online company unusual? Not for a moment. Online billing companies are notorious for doing nothing more for their clients than submitting already completed claims to a clearinghouse. In addition to the provider's staff doing all the billing, the staff must also post co-payments or any other monies received at the office. What, then, are you paying for? We don't know! What ARE you paying for? We know what these companies will tell you. They tell you you're paying for the outrageously expensive software plus the expensive updates plus the costly communications system plus the high-priced clearinghouse services. The next time they tell you that, tell them that you can get software for under $500, clearinghouse services for $75.00 per provider per month and a DSL hookup for $19.95 per month. Medical management companies, particularly online billing companies, have spent all their time and energy convincing healthcare providers of their NEED for a "hands off" billing system. They'll tell you things like: "We'll do all the work, you just sit back" or "Let us take the billing out of your hands, we'll do it all." That's simply ridiculous. Why in the world would you let any one person or any one company or any one computer program do the job of running your company for you? The billing process is the heart of your business. If you let someone else "do it all" you'll find yourself among the 20% of physicians who file for bankruptcy each year. What should I do? Take control of your billing back! ALL of it! If you still have time left on your lease with the online billing company then get after them for every claim that still is outstanding. If you are not seeing a marked increase in your income, ask them to explain why that's not happening. Then, when the lease is up, GET RID OF THEM! After we too were swindled out of thousands upon tens of thousands of dollars for multiple medical management software packages and billing franchises, we found that ONLY ONE billing system will do EXACTLY what it is has been designed to do. Click here to find out more Home | Free Articles | About Us | Services | Testimonials | Contact Us | Links