Electronic Claim Submission: The Easier Way to Get Paid Quickly
Electronic claim submission has revolutionized the healthcare billing process. Submitting claims electronically provides major benefits over submitting paper claims by mail.
This guide will walk through what electronic claim submission is, its key benefits, and tips for implementing it successfully.
What is Electronic Claim Submission?
Electronic claim submission allows healthcare providers to submit claims to insurance payers through electronic channels instead of mailing paper claim forms. The claims data is transmitted electronically from the provider's practice management or medical billing software to the payer's system.
Some common methods for electronic claim submission include:
- File uploads through a payer web portal
- Direct submission via electronic data interchange (EDI) over secure internet connections
- Real-time claim submission through online claim entry on the payer's website
Providers like ClaimGenix offer medical billing services that handle electronic claim submission.
Benefits of Submitting Claims Electronically
Switching to electronic claim submission provides the following advantages:
Faster Payment
Electronic claims get processed much faster than paper claims sent by mail. E-claims take days while paper can take weeks to process. This means you get paid more quickly.
Lower Cost
It costs less to submit claims electronically than by mail. You save on paper, postage, and labor required for mailing paper claims.
Improved Accuracy
Electronic submission reduces data entry errors that occur with paper claims. Claims are processed more accurately when data is transmitted directly from practice software.
Better Tracking
You can easily track the status of e-claims in real-time through practice software or payer websites. Paper claims are hard to track without calling the payer.
Tips for Successful Electronic Claim Submission
Follow these best practices to smoothly transition to electronic claim submission:
- Verify your software and billing services support e-claim filing for your payers.
- Ensure you have correct payer ID numbers and member info to include on claims.
- Check that claims are submitted in the correct HIPAA-compliant format.
- Monitor claims regularly and follow up quickly on rejections and denials.
- Take advantage of acknowledgements from payers to confirm claims are received.
- Research requirements for attachments and supplemental info which may need to be mailed.
Switching from paper to electronic claim submission isn't difficult with the right software and processes in place. The time and cost savings make it worthwhile for any medical billing operation. Adopting e-claim filing can help your practice get onto a faster payment cycle.
