With advancements in technology and software systems, digital physical therapy billing has had a huge impact on the way physical therapy practices run their day to day operations. Paper charting and documentation can add to the already time consuming process of billing, decreasing the efficiency and income of a practice. That being said many practices are still utilizing paper charts and records and have not adopted the ‘paperless’ method of organization. In this blog we will discuss benefits that going digital can have on your physical therapy practice. 

Benefits of Using Digital Billing for Physical Therapy Clinics

Like any new change, transitioning from paper to digital systems may seem like a daunting task for some. However, it is important that before any physical therapist shuts down the idea of change, they look at the multiple benefits that telehealth and digital billing can have on their practice. Below are a few of the many benefits that are a result of utilizing physical therapy billing systems. 

• Decreased time spent on PT billing

‍Billing can be a time consuming task that takes away from direct patient care for physical therapists. Mistakes made on paper billing can also result in physical therapists having to shred documents and start over on new forms. All of the time spent on billing and fixing mistakes and errors on paper can lead to a decrease in income for a practice.

By using a digital electronic medical record (EMR) billing system that includes drop down menus and auto filling information, physical therapists can spend less time on billing. Some EMR systems will even highlight when a large enough error is made, to help guide physical therapists prior to submission to insurance companies. Digital billing for physical therapy can decrease the time spent on billing and increase patient treatment time that can ultimately increase the financial status of a physical therapy practice. 

• Improved organization

‍By using a digital system for billing all of a physical therapy practice’s documents can be located in one place. EMR systems have organizational tools to separate documents to their according location and make it easy for physical therapists to go back and access the documents that they may need. Providers can decrease the amount of space they use for filing cabinets and improve overall organization of their practice. 

• Improved security of document and records

‍Many EMR systems are HIPAA compliant and offer security for the protected health information and documents that you upload into it. By keeping all of your practices information on one of these systems you decrease the risk of exposing information when moving papers throughout your practice. With password protected capabilities, physical therapists do not have to worry about accidentally leaving a paper out or misplacing a document. All of the information for their practice will be in one place. Telehealth systems can offer options for screen lockdown after someone has stepped away from the computer for a certain amount of time, that way a stranger walking by can not access the information. By having a secure digital billing system, physical therapists can continue to be HIPAA compliant and organized. 

• Ability to utilize multiple services that come with EMR systems

‍EMR systems like Healthie offer multiple services besides digital billing that providers can capitalize on to improve their practice. Healthie offers multiple services on top of billing that includes a client management portal, charting, intake forms, blogs, e-books and guides, scheduling, HEP’s and so much more. To learn more about Healthie and how to start your free-trial today check out our main website here. Ultimately, providers can promote their business while also managing their practice. 

Incorporating Digital Billing into Your Physical Therapy Practice‍

In order for providers to incorporate digital billing into their physical therapy practice it is important for providers to prepare for the transition to ease the process. To start, providers need to choose a HIPAA compliant EMR system. Once they have chosen the PT billing software that they will be using, providers need to make sure that they train their staff. If providers have questions regarding insurance compliance with a physical therapy billing software it is important to contact the insurance provider and EMR. Providers should also have the appropriate technology to support the system. If providers are struggling with what type of technology is the best to be used they should communicate directly with the EMR company. Time needs to be allotted for educating the staff on all that the EMR has to offer in order for it to be used to its highest capability. Lastly, time will also be required for the providers to transition the paper records onto the digital PT billing system. Questions and concerns about the transition should be directed toward the EMR system for assistance. 

Using digital billing can have a positive impact on the efficiency and organization of your physical therapy practice. It can combat the confusing and difficult world of paper billing while decreasing the time spent on the billing process. It also allows providers to stay connected with their patients between treatment sessions. Utilizing EMR services can give your practice the ability to stay up to date with the latest technologies that can help advance your practice. Going paperless is the way to go and it's time for you practice to do just that.

‍Healthie

Healthie offers a cloud-based EHR and telehealth platform that is fully integrated with billing and insurance features. You can quickly create Superbills and CMS 1500 claims, build packages, send invoices, and collect payments for out-of-pocket services. 

• Insurance Billing: Generate CMS-1500s and Superbills directly from your chart notes, and send to the clearinghouse directly from Healthie. Track claim status and reimbursement within the platform. 
• Favorite ICD-10 & CPT Codes: PTs can designate physical therapy-specific billing codes as “favorites” within Healthie, allowing for quick access when filling out both CMS-1500s and Superbills
• Anatomical Charting: With our new Anatomical Charting feature, PTs can chart more accurately, therefore saving them time when creating and submitting insurance documents. 
• Packages: Healthie’s packages feature allows providers to build custom packages based on their service offerings.  You can also create unique promotional codes if offering a discount for patients.
• Payments: From the payments page, you can keep track of when, how, and for what patients have paid.  You can create invoices and receipts for your services, so patients can easily see what they owe.  

We have seen physical therapists and occupational therapists that use Healthie find success with reimbursement for out-of-network services. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or part of a multi-provider group or organization, our flexible membership plans adapt to meet your business needs. Let us help you launch your practice.