If you're an aesthetic provider considering switching to an electronic health record (EHR) system, you likely have questions about how it will impact your billing and revenue cycle management. 

At Calysta EMR, we know that efficient billing processes are critical for the financial health of your practice. The good news is that implementing an EHR delivers significant benefits for streamlining billing and maximizing reimbursements.

In this post, we'll explain exactly how using an EHR improves the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of your billing and collections.

Automated Charge Capture Prevents Lost Revenue

One of the biggest perks of using an EHR like Calysta is that charge capture happens automatically, in real-time, at the point of care.

As services are documented in the EHR during the appointment, charge entries are simultaneously created. This eliminates dependence on staff to manually record charges after the fact, which often leads to missed revenue opportunities.

Studies show that manual charge capture misses up to 15% of billable charges. With automated EHR charge capture, you can feel confident that all services delivered are accurately captured for billing. This prevents lost revenue due to incomplete coding and unbilled procedures.

Streamlined Claims Management Reduces Denials

EHRs make the claims filing process smoother and more efficient. 

Patient visit notes, orders, medications, diagnoses, and procedures are all documented within the EHR system. This clinical data can be seamlessly integrated into claims, ensuring accuracy and completeness for clean claim submission.

EHRs virtually eliminate time-consuming paperwork and manual data entry. Claims can be submitted directly from the EHR to clearinghouses and payers at the push of a button. 

Having robust supporting documentation readily available also helps claims pass payer edits and reviews. This streamlined process significantly reduces denial rates and speeds up claims processing.

Improved Reporting for Better Decision Making

An EHR contains a wealth of data that can be leveraged to gain visibility into your practice's financial operations. Extensive reporting capabilities let you monitor key revenue cycle management metrics to identify issues and optimize workflows.

You can pull detailed billing reports to analyze:

• Denial reasons
• Payer performance
• Coding patterns
• Charge lag
• Outstanding claims
• Accounts receivable aging

Reports make it easy to pinpoint problem areas, recognize trends, and implement corrective measures to boost revenue and cash flow.

Enhanced Coordination Between Teams

Lack of coordination between clinical and billing teams can negatively impact billing processes. EHRs bridge this gap by allowing transparent data sharing between departments.

Clinical documentation flows directly into billing systems, keeping billers up to date in real time. Meanwhile, billers can provide feedback on documentation needs to clinicians, improving coding for clean claims submission. This synchronization results in increased collaboration and accuracy across the revenue cycle.

Revenue Cycle Analytics

Robust analytics available in EHR systems enable data-driven revenue cycle optimization:

• Reporting determines the causes of claim denials and coding errors so these can be addressed at the source.
• Data identifies workflows, documentation practices and coding strategies that maximize revenue integrity.
• Financial KPIs such as denial rates, days in A/R, and collection rates are tracked to model optimal processes.
• Analytics empower providers to refine documentation and coding practices to align with billing requirements.

Fewer Errors Means Faster Payments

Errors in billing tasks like charge entry, coding, and claims completion can be tremendously costly. Research indicates that around 90% of claim denials are linked to preventable mistakes. EHR billing tools dramatically reduce avoidable errors that lead to denials and payment delays.

Built-in safeguards like warnings, prompts, and scrubbers catch potential errors before claims go out. You can catch under-coding, duplication, invalid codes, and inconsistencies. Claims are processed right the first time, speeding up payer reimbursement.

Enhanced Patient Billing Experience

EHR systems also offer advantages in customer-centric billing approaches:

• Consolidated patient billing records allow patient financial services staff to provide customized payment plans based on financial need.
• Digital storage of insurance cards enables eligibility to be verified during appointment reminder calls to minimize delays.
• Price estimator tools allow quotes to be generated for patients prior to visits, promoting cost transparency.
• Online patient portals allow bills to be viewed, payments made and inquiries submitted, improving communication.
• Automated payment plans can be initiated and reminders sent based on structured billing data in the EHR.

What Are You Waiting For? Go Electronic for Efficient Billing

Still using paper charts and records? It's time to step into the future of optimize your practice's revenue cycle management. An integrated EHR system offers game-changing advantages for billing and collections through automation, analytics, and coordination.

At Calysta EMR, our all-in-one solution is purpose-built to help aesthetic providers like you maximize reimbursements and reduce claim denials. Our customizable platform seamlessly adapts to your unique workflows while delivering robust billing capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much training and support does Calysta provide when implementing the EHR?

Our team provides dedicated training and 24/7 support to ensure you fully leverage the platform and smoothly transition workflows. We also offer onboarding resources like video tutorials, knowledge bases, and ongoing webinars.

How long does it take to see a return on investment after implementing Calysta?

Most practices begin seeing positive ROI within 6-12 months. The increase in revenue from accelerated payments, reduced denials, and prevented lost charges typically offsets the system cost quickly.

Does Calysta integrate with other systems like payment processors and payer portals?

Yes, Calysta easily integrates with third-party systems for seamless data sharing and workflow automation. Our EHR platform interoperates with most major aesthetic industry solutions.

Can I customize Calysta to match my unique workflows?

Our platform is 100% customizable, allowing you to tailor everything from templates to workflows to reports. We'll collaborate to configure Calysta to your specifications for an optimal user experience.

Is my data secure with Calysta EMR?

Absolutely. We utilize top-level cloud data security including encryption, access controls, and HIPAA compliance safeguards to protect your practice's data. Patient privacy is our top priority.

What support does Calysta provide after implementation?

Our U.S.-based support team is available 24/7 by phone, email, and chat. We also provide IT support, ongoing training resources, personalized platform optimization, and regular feature upgrades for continual improvement.

Contact us now to schedule your free demo and consultation. Let's work together to help your practice prosper. Calysta was created for you - because we know the success of your business matters.