Office Ally Offers Healthcare Providers a Full Compliment of Revenue Cycle Management Services–Stop By and See Us at HIMSS at Booth 2713

It’s getting closer to that time of the year again when many in healthcare and health technologies all make our annual trip to the HIMSS convention.  The show runs from February 29-24th at the Orange County Convention Center.   This year if you are not already well aware, the place is Orlando, Florida and based on what’s happening elsewhere with weather I can say I’m glad this is not the year for McCormick Place in Chicago.

In case you missed our announcement via press release a couple weeks ago, Office Ally saw a 36% increase in the numbers of users we have nationwide across the US and to our customers we say thank you!  340,000 providers are now using one or more of our web based systems.  We do things a little differently at times, like offering a 24/7 help line which is almost unheard of today but we understand that a lot of the work taking place with healthcare today is not just limited to the hours of 9 to 5, and thus we are there to support you.

The full press release as published at Healthcare Finance News can be read here.

In 2010 we created some new programs and offerings for our customers to include Reminder Mate and just recently added our billing service.  It makes sense to take a look and see if there are some substantial savings and efficiencies.  If you are attending the HIMSS Convention, stop by and we can show you how they work with some live demos. 

Reminder Mate – Automatically Calls Patients for Appointment Reminders

Office Ally Medical Billing Services–Let Us Do Your Billing and Get Our Software Suite for Free, Including Our 24/7 Web Based HER

Office Ally also has an exclusive agreement with Blue Shield of California for its provider network to utilize Office Ally for member e-visits and patients benefit as they receive our free PHR, Patient Ally.  Some carriers reimburse for e-visits and we can provide the software and tools to make that happen.  Last year the AMA was kind enough to include a short review on how to get paid with e-visits and featured some basic information on our services. 

American Medical Association Talks About Getting Paid for Online Consults – Patient Ally A Featured Solution

 

Also on the agenda of big news this year was our first certification process, and when shopping for a medical records system this means everything as far as qualifying for stimulus money and attaining meaningful use provisions.  

 

Office Ally Achieves ONC-ATCB Certification To Support Meaningful Use for Providers

Here’s a link to our page at HIMSS where you can also get a closer look at what we will be featuring and demonstrating at our booth.

Office Ally – HIMSS Booth 2713

HIMSS this year also has a mobile version so you can stay tuned in with your Tablet, phone or whatever your mobile unit of choice may be.

HIMSS Mobile Site – Office Ally Link

During the convention, if you use Twitter and understand how the hash tags work, simply use #HIMSS to connect and see what is happening during the convention.  As of today there’s already people talking about plans and events prior to the convention. 

If you have seen any of the news that has been released in the last few few weeks, there are a large group of speakers from HHS and the ONC Division speaking this year and this HIMSS video shows what the convention hall in Atlanta looked like last year.

 

HIMSS Atlanta 2010

 

Here’s an image of where we are in the big convention hall and if you see the big GE Healthcare booth you are not far away from us and we are very close to one of the entrance /exit areas, so we should be easy to find.   This screenshot is from the HIMSS Online Exhibitor Locator and you can find it here at their website.  Thanks again to both our long time and new clients this year for your business and we will see you at HIMSS. 

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What Is Covered in Medicare 2011–Changes and New Benefits

If you have not seen the recent news, Office Ally is now certified for our 24/7 electronic medical records system. 24/7 users will be able to demonstrate meaningful use.   This is going to be very important in the upcoming years for sure. 

Today we thought we would feature some information from one of the blogs we like to read.

 “Manage My Practice” published some information about changes that will be coming next year.  You can find the link to Pat Whaley’s blog under our links section too.  

We will include a few of the highlights from her update and for more information you can visit here blog entry and you might find a lot of other useful information there too.  One other bit of good news for Family Practice physicians is the 99213 code compensation will be going up too and if you work in a family practice you are probably more than well aware that this probably covers about 70-85% of the coding for patient visits.

One of the big changes and benefits has to do with the allowance of an Annual Wellness Visit that includes a thorough review of your health at no charge.  This is the gateway to getting started and when you read through the listing of other services, it makes sense as other screenings, such as mammograms and diabetes screenings are included for those who are considered “high risk”.  

One other item to keep in mind is thinking about starting a PHR (personal health record) as a patient or recommending one to your patients if you are a physician and Office Ally can help with Patient Ally, our “FREE” personal health record.

You can visit the Patient Ally Website and find out more information and get started.  

You can find the full article at Pat Whaley’s website

Medicare Benefits Beginning January 1, 2011

• Medicare covers a one-time preventive physical exam within the first twelve months of having Part B.  The exam will include a thorough review of  health, education and counseling about the preventive services covered by Medicare and referrals for other care if needed.  No Part B deductible and effective January 1, 2011 you pay nothing if the doctor accepts assignment.
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening – People at risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms may get a referral for a one-time screening ultrasound at their “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam.  Effective January 1, 2011 no deductible and no copayment.
• New Annual Wellness Visit – Effective January 1, 2011 Medicare will cover an Annual Wellness Visit that includes a thorough review of health, education and counseling about the preventive services covered by Medicare and referrals for other care if you need it.  It is available every 12 months (after first 12 months of Part B coverage) but not within 12 months of receiving either a “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam or another Annual Wellness Visit.  No Part B deductible – Medicare pays 100% of the approved amount.
• Cardiovascular Screening Blood Tests -  Medicare covers cardiovascular screening tests that check cholesterol and other blood fat (lipid) levels every 5 years.  Includes:
• Total Cholesterol Test
• Cholesterol Test for High Density Lipoproteins; and
• Triglycerides Test
• No Part B deductible – Medicare pays 100% of approved amount.
• Diabetes Screening Tests - Anyone enrolled in Medicare identified as “high risk” for diabetes will be able to receive screening tests to detect diabetes early.  Covers up to two screenings each year.  Includes:
  • Fasting plasma glucose test
  • Post-glucose challenge test
  • No Part B deductible – Medicare pays 100% of approved amount
• Glaucoma Screening – Must be done or supervised by an eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist). Covered annually for:
  • Those with diabetes
  • Those with a family history of glaucoma
  • African-Americans age 50 and older
  • Hispanic-Americans age 65 and older
  • Other high risk individuals
  • Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount after you meet the yearly Part B deductible.
• Bone Mass Measurement - For those enrolled in Medicare at high risk for losing bone mass.  Effective January 1, 2011 no Part B deductible – Medicare pays 100% of approved amount.
• Screening Mammography (including new digital technologies) – For women age 40 and older enrolled in Medicare:
  • Covered annually
  • No Part B deductible – Medicare pays 100% of approved amount beginning January 1, 2011.
• Screening Pap Test & Pelvic Examination (Includes clinical breast examination) – For all women enrolled in Medicare:
  • Covered once every two years for most
  • Covered annually for women at high risk
  • No Part B deductible – Medicare pays 100% of approved amount for Pap test and effective January 1, 2011 pays 100% of approved amount for pelvic and breast exam.
• Colorectal Cancer Screening – For all those enrolled in Medicare age 50 and older:
  • Fecal-Occult blood test covered annually – No Part B deductible & Medicare pays 100% of approved amount.  No Part B deductible and copayment for Doctor’s office visit starting January 1, 2011.
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy once every four years or 10 years after a previous screening colonoscopy– No Part B deductible or copayment starting January 1, 2011.
  • Barium enema can be substituted for sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy – No Part B deductible – Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount.  You will pay a higher coinsurance if the test is done in a hospital outpatient department.
  • Colonoscopy for any age enrolled in Medicare
  • Average risk – Once every ten years, but not within four years after a screening flexible sigmoidoscopy
  • High-risk – Once every two years
  • No Part B deductible and effective January 1, 2011 Medicare pays 100%.
• Prostate Cancer Screening Tests -For all men enrolled in Medicare age 50 and older:
  • Covered annually
  • Digital rectal exam – Medicare pays 80%  of the approved amount after the deductible
  • Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test
  • No Part B deductible – Medicare pays 100% of approved amount.
• Diabetes Monitoring and Education – Covers Type I and Type II diabetics enrolled in Medicare who must monitor blood sugar (Not paid for those in a nursing home) Covered services:
  • Glucose-monitoring devices, lancets & strips
  • Education & training to help control diabetes
  • Foot care once every 6 months for those with peripheral neuropathy
  • Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount after you meet the yearly Part B deductible.
• Medical Nutritional Therapy – Covered for those with diabetes or kidney disease. Includes diagnosis of special nutrition needs, therapy and counseling services to help you manage your disease.  Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount after you meet the yearly Part B deductible.
• Smoking Cessation Services – Medicare will cover up to 8 counseling sessions per year for individuals who have an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use or you take medication affected by tobacco use.  Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount after you meet the yearly Part B deductible.
• Flu Vaccination Annually (Medicare pays once per season. You do not have to wait 365 days since your last one.) No Part B deductible – you pay nothing if your doctor accepts assignment. My post on billing for the flu shot is here.
• H1N1 Flu Vaccine Medicare covers the administration of the H1N1 flu shot.  You cannot be charged for the vaccine.  No Part B deductible or co-insurance.
• Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccination- Once per lifetime for all enrolled in Medicare.  (A doctor may order additional ones for those with certain health problems.) No Part B deductible – Medicare pays 100% of approved amount.
• Hepatitis B Shots – Covered for those who are at medium or high risk.  Effective January 1, 2011, there will be no Part B deductible and Medicare pays 100%.

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Office Ally Medical Billing Services–Let Us Do Your Billing and Get Our Software Suite for Free, Including Our 24/7 Web Based EHR

A few weeks ago we announced our new medical billing services availability.  Its easy to get started and one item to think about is if you are already using a billing service you could switch and get our 24/7 EHR to include e-prescribing for free.  We understand that many offices may have some longtime associations with services that have been used for years; however now might be the time to take a look and see what consolidation may have to offer. 

One of the advantages a practice would see with our billing services is the use of our billing/schedule software, Practice Mate.  At any time various reports can be pulled and read to see the status of one account or one of the many other reports available, perhaps those accounts over 90 days past due for a simple example. 

This could stand to save time in not having to make phones calls, wait for a fax report, etc.  It’s something with food for thought.  Our new billing services will make it easier for physicians, hospitals and clinics to receive prompt and accurate reimbursement from insurance companies and patients.

Office Ally becomes the only organization in the country to offer providers a full complement of revenue cycle management services including a patient portal, electronic health records, a practice management system, a clearinghouse and now the billing service.

The services include daily charge entry, daily posting of payments and daily electronic filing to Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance companies.   We will provide monthly patient statements and monthly billing and collection support as well as insurance appeals and denials which tend to take up a lot of administrative time.

Our fees similar to many billing services are charged by a percentage.  One other great item included is Reminder Mate, which is normally a subscription item and that is part of the free software too when using Office Ally Medical Billing. 

Reminder Mate – Automatically Calls Patients for Appointment Reminders

Checking eligibility is no problem either and this is important to have as insurance carriers and patients are changing plans and enrollments quite frequently. 

For a quote click here and complete the billing service questionnaire which is in pdf format which will ask for your top 10 payers and a few other relative questions to include what your last 3 months activity included as well will need some very basic information to enable us to give you a quote. 

Upon completion of the questionnaire email it to Tina.Bishop@officeally.com or fax it to (360) 896-2151, Attention:  Tina

All of Office Ally software modules work together and when it comes time for stimulus money with us you are not going to be spending more money than you are today (our medical billing might improve this picture) and be able to qualify for meaningful use as described by the US government.  Remember too we are web based so there is no time consuming installation to be done and all training is done via remote support. 

One other note worth mentioning too is that your patients will be getting a free PHR with Patient Ally, so lab information, claims, and more will be available for their use too so everyone wins. 

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Benefits for Patients:

Your doctors can access the latest information from your record, and even keep in touch using Patient Ally’s communication system. You may also send your forms and other related information to your doctor all through Patient Ally …while at the comfort of your desk.

1. Pre-built Forms: Fill out all the forms you need once, and never fill them out again.
2. Appointments: Request, reschedule and cancel appointments with your provider online.
3. Inbox: Communicate with your provider(s) through Patient Channel using Patient Ally’s internal Inbox.
4. Document Center: Upload all medical documents once, and use the inbox to send the documents to your providers.
5. Laboratory Results: View the latest lab results from your provider from your PC, anytime and anywhere.
6. Vitals: View the latest vitals in charts from your doctor visits, or enter and keep track of your own vitals. A Health opinion system will give you recommendations based on your vital history.

Patient Ally makes it easy and simple for patient to have their own personal health record prepopulated with the information they need and want.

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New Medical Billing Services Are on the Way from Office Ally–More Information Coming Soon

This morning we published a press release so stay tuned for addition information at the website about our new billing services.   If you are presently using some or all of our web based offerings, adding a billing services makes perfect sense!

A few months ago we gave our website a new look to create a portal to access our services, which makes it easier for our clients to access and sign in.  One big feature is the availability to check for eligibility for patients.  This is a normal and every day procedure today with insurance plans changing, open enrollment and patients changing from one plan to another.  It’s a busy world today with a lot choices.

If you are presently billing in house, this could be both a time and money saver for you.  As a participant enrolled in the service, our 24/7 EHR is included.  You can also still subscribe at $29.95 a month and use the EHR as a stand alone web product. 

Office Ally 24/7 EHR E-Prescribing Solutions at $30.99 a Month

With participation in the billing program we will provide statements and support for collections.  Our current solutions are used by many IPAs (independent physician associations) and coordinates with their systems and helps provide information that otherwise would be a duplicated effort, in other words we are doing some of the work with our information systems that could require an additional software investment.

Stay tuned as more information will be forthcoming soon.  It’s been a long journey since we began as a “free clearinghouse” for providers in the year 2000 and we continue to expand and create solutions to help the providers and hospitals.  When Office Ally began operations, we were the first company to offer free services where others charge providers for this service.  To keep our services free, all we ask is that 50% of the claims submitted be commercial, in other words going to insurance companies, and then the rest, your Medicare and Medicaid get to ride along for free with electronic submissions. 

“This new product allows providers to spend more time focusing on patient care and less time concerned with coding, billing and tracking payment,” said Brian O’Neill, Office Ally president and CEO. “As with all of the other products we offer, the billing service is designed to assist providers with their backroom operation at far less of a cost than they are typically paying for similar services. That translates into real and meaningful dollar savings for providers.”

As a quick reminder, Office Ally offers 24/7 free customer service to all our clients whether you are a provider, patient, biller, or otherwise. 

To reach our us just simply call 866-575-4120 at any hour and follow the prompts.

Office Ally Announces New Billing Service for Providers | Business Wire

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Office Ally Resource Center On the Web–Enrollment, NPI Information and More…

Perhaps this is something that goes unmentioned at times, but thought a refresh on what we have available on the website might need a little rehash since the site has been remodeled.  Don’t forget we are also on Facebook so feel free to stop by and “like us”. 

Office Ally has been in the clearinghouse business for many years in addition to our 24/7 EHR and Patient Ally offerings and regardless of whether or not you use our services, you might find some helpful information relative to insurance carriers and NPI information of use.

Here’s an example of what is available to either view on the screen or download:

NPI Information

• Aetna NPI Information
• Anthem WellPoint BCBS NPI Information
• AVMED NPI Information
• BCBS of Minnesota NPI Information
• Blue Shield of CA NPI Information
• Blue Shield of CA NPI Information for Groups
• MediCal NPI Information
• Noridian NPI Information
• NPI Information
• NPI PTAN Medicare Edits – Office Ally – March 1st
• Office Ally NPI Contingency Plan
• OneHealth Port NPI Information
• Premera NPI Information

In addition to the information above we have our payer lists available for download and viewing.

Payer Lists

The payer lists help to identify the payers/insurance companies and what services Office Ally is set up to conduct electronically. Consult the payer lists to determine if pre-enrollment is required with a specific payer/insurance company. If pre-enrollment is required you can find the appropriate enrollment on our Payer Enrollment Forms page.

• Professional / Institutional / Remittance Advice
• Dental Payer List
• Workers Compensation

Payer Enrollment Forms

Some payers require pre-enrollment before permitting the provider to submit electronic claims to them.  Typically payers such as Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, and Blue Shield require pre-enrollment.  Payers that require pre-enrollment are indicated on our Payer Lists (PreEnr column).  As a service to our customers, Office Ally provides these agreements and forms below, pre-filled with Office Ally’s information wherever required.  Below is a list of all Pre-Enrollment forms available (sorted by state and payer). 
Be sure to complete the form(s) as indicated on the Instructions Cover Page to ensure applications are not denied for incorrect/missing information.

The links below are live for each state.

ALL or Multiple States Payer Enrollment Forms
Payer Enrollment Forms for State Specific Payers:
AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD
MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC
SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | DC | WV | WI | WY
Electronic Remittance / ERA / 835 Enrollment Forms

Additional information by state is also available so visit the web page for more information.

We know forms and other matters are not as exciting as other things in the news today, but sometimes a reminder and recap of what’s available can be timely.   

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Office Ally™ – Resource Center | Payer List | Forms & Manuals

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Office Ally Free Clearinghouse Services–You Have A Choice With Your Software or Ours

Did you you that we accept claims in these formats, CMS1500, UB04, and ADA. 

Why is our service free to hospitals and providers – we collect reimbursement from the insurers, the ones who actually benefit in getting your medical claims processed. without having to do the same in house.

All claims are scrubbed and reviewed for errors and when mistakes and issues are found you have the opportunity to correct and we send them again.

You can use your existing software to submit claims too and presently we submit to over 2300 payers.  If you get stuck we have 24/ customer service representatives to help you out, real people and not just web services as to fully support our clients we realize you need both as sometimes billing is not always done during the house of 8:00 to 5:00.

Office Ally’s 24/7 Customer Service – Real Time In Person Telephone Conversations When You Need It

Phone: (866) 575-4120
You can also email us at any time. 

info@officeally.com

If over half of your claims are commercial, then throw in your Medicare, Tricare, Champus and Medicaid claims too as this is the only thing we ask is that half are commercial and the rest ride along for free. 

When using your own software, and upon having an account with Office Ally simply upload your CMS 1500 or other print images to our secure servers. 

Recently one of our clients took time out to write about our services, Practice Resources.  Feel free to use the link below and see what they had to say and how they utilize what we have to offer.

Choosing The Right Clearinghouse Office Ally – Practice Resource Company

Not too long ago we improved our appearance on the web and all the lists you may be looking for can be found and downloaded from our lists below which are in pdf format, all centralized to make finding them easier. 

We have an entire suite of services most of which are free, but if you are not yet in the market to expand with practice management or an electronic medical record or if you are already set up, you can still take advantage of our free clearinghouse services. 

Visit our website at www.officeally.com to learn more. 

Clearinghouse – Electronic Claims Processing, Medical Claims Clearinghouse

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