This January, small medical facilities and private practices will need to transition to the new ANSI 5010 data format, and as such, individuals who manage these healthcare environments may be well-advised to invest in software that can make this process easier for all involved.
Several big changes in the billing process will occur as a result of the switch. For example, ANSI 5010 uses longer zip codes and uses physical mailing addresses to ensure billing documents are sent properly. Still, there are many ways to approach the transition despite the fact that the results will be similar for every health care facility
Some medical practitioners such as Dr. John Ward, who runs a family practice in Missouri, have found big benefits by using cloud-based services for their ANSI 5010 transition, according to InformationWeek. Despite an early glitch in the process – which was caused by a payer that wasn't ready to accept the new standards – Ward's wife, Nancy Ward, and practice manager reported that the transition had been otherwise successful.
Experts say that relying on cloud-based medical billing software can be beneficial for smaller practices, as these programs typically don't require their operators to possess as much technical prowess. This can be a big help to small medical facilities that need to complete their transition before the upcoming deadline, but don't have the same staff as major hospitals and medical facilities.
What's particularly interesting about the decision of these two healthcare professionals, is that they have decided not to update their facility with electronic medical records despite the fact that it could offer big financial incentives.
Medical providers that are interested in updating their software to include new medical billing and electronic medical records software should look for a reseller that is able to offer installation, support and consultation on the best ways to utilize Lytec, Practice Choice or Medisoft software during day-to-day operations.
