Many individuals rely on health insurance funds to meet their medical expenses. It is painful to see a patient forgo necessary care because of the high expense involved or because a treatment is too expensive for them. It is very frustrating if the insurance claim is not settled or the payment is delayed. The main reason for delayed and denied claims is usually the lack of clarity in the medical records and medical claims. This issue can be effectively addressed if physicians hire a professional medical transcription service to ensure accuracy of the medical records.
Verifying medical data is a crucial step in the medical insurance claim settlement process and for that reason, accurate transcripts are the most trustworthy documents. These may be used as proof in court if there is a dispute over payment of claims between patients and insurance companies. As per HIPAA also, retaining good medical records has become crucial to the delivery of healthcare. Doctors are required to create comprehensive documentation detailing the treatment they give a patient. Medical transcription is done in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
Why Medical Transcription Is Important for Physicians and Health Insurers
Settlement of insurance claims is highly complex. To prove that a claim is true and not fabricated, accurate medical documentation must be made available for the insurer. Therefore, there is considerable demand for precisely transcribed medical records. By digitizing the consultation reports for invoicing, record-keeping, and insurance claims, the transcriptionists can lessen physician and in-house workload. They assist in the digital transcription of:
- Consultation reports: Consultation reports are used to outline the patient’s past experiences as well as the reason for providing a particular treatment. It is a concise report that explains the patient’s situation and also contains all the basic information of the patient.
- Discharge summary: When a patient leaves the hospital, a discharge statement is essential. Hospital discharge summaries are the key documents used to communicate a patient’s treatment plan to the post-hospital care team.
- Operative notes: An operative note is a report that is included in a patient’s medical file to summarize a procedure. Following a surgical procedure, the operative report is dictated and then entered into the patient’s file.
Accurate Medical Records for Insurance Claim Adjusters
When an injury claim is filed with a health insurer, an insurance claim adjuster initially looks into it to determine the full extent of the at-fault party’s liability. He interacts with the claimant, carefully examines all the evidence-supporting papers, speaks with additional witnesses, and then produces a report based on his findings.
A smooth resolution of an insurance claim is guaranteed by accurately recorded insurance reports. The claim adjuster is a specialized official hired by insurance companies to study the case and document the entire procedure from start to finish. His duties include comprehending the severity of the injuries, the justification for the compensation amount requested, investigating the legal ramifications, and comparing the information to the actual insurance policy. He will have to look over the patient’s medical history, expenses, and reports of the most recent injury for which the patient was admitted to the hospital.
The claim adjuster asks copies of the claimant’s medical records when there is a medical emergency, such as a car accident or unexpected death, in order to determine the underlying reason.
It is crucial that the claimant has legal backing for his/her claim, and in order to do so, the language in their medical reports must be accurate. This accuracy in medical documentation is what medical transcription services ensure.
How Insurance Companies Use Medical Records
- Verifying the accuracy of application information: Before issuing a policy, insurers frequently ask applicants to undergo a medical examination and/or provide medical records. They validate all the information submitted in an application using this medical data. These are also used to see if any relevant information, such as family medical history or any pre-existing conditions, was left out.
- Calculating the value of claims: Claims adjusters thoroughly go over medical documents when it comes to plans like individual disability income insurance or long-term disability insurance to comprehend the scope and seriousness of a claimant’s ailment. This enables them to assess a claim’s value. Claimants who are unable to work owing to an incapacitating illness or accident, may receive good compensation. However, if medical records show that the damage or condition isn’t particularly serious, the claim can be reduced or even rejected. In order to stop paying benefits, adjusters also periodically evaluate medical records for any changes that would indicate that the claimant is no longer disabled.
- Insurance companies need quick retrieval of medical records: The process of getting medical records must be rapid and precise due to the critical role that they play in how insurers do their jobs. Insurance companies may hire professionals from reliable medical transcription services to handle the retrieval process.
One of the best ways to ensure timely reimbursement of insurance claims and settlement is to generate accurate medical records at the right time. A professional medical transcription company can help healthcare professionals generate and manage error-free medical records.
