Using process improvement to strengthen Research Billing requires a willingness to identify and correct mistakes in areas ranging from EMR workflow to charges themselves. All stakeholders must be open to taking a look at EMR design and interoperability, CTM data entry, and the claim components. Facilitating communication among all stakeholders from coordinators to executives regarding payor rules and internal process is critical. Methods for tracking, harmonization and keeping up with amendments must be established. Flexibility and stamina is necessary to restructure, recommunicate, and reverse when necessary.
- Share process improvement journey for effective Research billing compliance.
- Identifying areas of improvement in billing with support from your organization's process improvement professionals (we have Lean 6 Sigma through our Quality department, but some organizations use Kaizen or other methods).
- Designing EMR workflows that support billing and redesigning those that may hinder billing. Lather, rinse, repeat. Get the IT folks at the table and keep them close.
- Taking a systems/all hands on deck approach to Research billing issues, from Coordinators to VPs. Open the lines for communication.
