A recent survey of medical billing companies shows a positive outlook on revenue cycle outsourcing, with many seeing payment collection as an opportunity. Nearly two-thirds of medical billing companies have a rising positive outlook about the current state of the revenue cycle outsourcing industry, according to a recent  survey  from Tebra. The practice growth technology company recently surveyed 277 medical billing company owners, leaders, and team members serving independent practices and clinics in the US. The majority of respondents belonged to companies that serve less than ten practices and clinics. Medical billers are optimistic about the future of the industry despite increased competition, healthcare consolidation, and other unfavorable macro forces. About 43 percent—up from 27 percent in 2018—reported outsourcing of medical billing as a significant opportunity to leverage technology to optimize services, reduce repetitive tasks, and boost revenue.

  One year ago, the United States marked a turning point for health care cost transparency with a new law aimed at helping Americans avoid unnecessary, unexpected medical debt. As of Jan. 1, 2022, health care providers and insurers are no longer allowed to sideswipe privately insured people with bills for out-of-network services. Experts say the bipartisan No Surprises Act was a rare victory for patients and the public against exploitative health care costs, but that challenges remain. In 2019, Republicans and Democrats in Congress worked together to craft legislation that ultimately became the No Surprises Act. The  law protects people  in group and individual health insurance plans from receiving unexpected bills from out-of-network providers who cared for them at in-network facilities – a system already in place for Medicaid and Medicare patients. An independent dispute resolution process now allows insurance companies and providers to figure out coverage and costs aft...

  As more primary care providers integrate behavioral health services into their practice, EHR platforms must evolve to meet the needs of healthcare providers and their patients. The U.S. is suffering from a mental healthcare crisis. According to the   National Alliance on Mental Illness  (NAMI), one in five adults in the U.S. experience a mental health disorder each year, but less than half (47.2%) received treatment in 2021. These data points become even more devastating when you consider that suicide is the second leading cause of death among children age 10- to 14-years-old, with one in six kids age 6- to 17-years-old suffering from a mental health disorder every year. The silver lining here, if there is one, is that deep-rooted stigmas attached to behavioral healthcare are finally losing their crushing grip on our patient populations as more people openly discuss mental health issues. Another step in the right direction: two years after the pandemic resulted in alarm...