As an anaesthetist, selecting the right billing service provider is essential for the smooth and efficient operation of your practice. Anaesthetic billing is a complex system that requires billing experts to significantly reduce administrative burden, minimise errors, and maximise revenue.
However, with numerous options available, it can be difficult to know which one will best meet your specific needs.
In this article, Solo Practice Management outlines the top 5 key questions anaesthetists should ask when considering a billing service provider. These questions are designed to ensure the provider aligns with your practice’s needs, maintains high standards of accuracy, and delivers true value for money.
1. What experience do you have with anaesthesia billing specifically?
This is crucial because anaesthesia billing is more complex than general medical billing. Many companies will offer medical billing for the spectrum of specialties – and they can tend to just do the minimum data entry necessary, rather than support your billing with expertise that assists you with compliance as well as maximising your income. Missed opportunities can cost you money, and a the financial benefits of a quality billing offering will often outweight the fees they charge.
So, when it comes to anaesthetic billing, you don’t really want a jack of all trades, instead a professional who has a deep understanding of helping our private practice to prosper.
2. What is your process for ensuring timely and accurate billing submissions?
The quicker a claim is submitted, the faster you’ll be reimbursed. Enquire about their submission timelines and how they ensure that the billing process is efficient and precise. But there’s more to it – making sure your billing is done accurately and compliant with Medicare and fund rules avoids rejections, delays, repayments and other headaches that in the end will cost you money.
At Solo Practice Management, we submit all billing within 2 days to ensure you are paid ASAP and to minimise the likelihood of bad debtors. Our exclusive practice software also means your billing is easier and faster to submit and your patients pay faster.
3. How do you handle patient billing and collections?
It’s important to know how the service handles patient invoicing, collections, and payment follow-ups.
Solo Practice management obtains IFC for every patient – it’s really important and not just for accounts you plan on charging a gap for. Not only is it good practice, it ensures your patients are fully informed, in the not uncommon situation where their fund rejects their claim. It also expedites patient payments.
This is a very important question when looking for a new billing provider or just checking that the provider you’re with is doing the most for your private practice.
4. What is your pricing model?
Understand the fee structure. Whether they charge a flat rate, a percentage of collections, or a different model.
It’s common for billing provider to charge a flat fee or monthly fee for being a “member”, often for services you don’t need or use. The team at Solo Practice Management fail to see the logic and believe you should only have to pay for the accounts you actually generate.
At SPM, we charge a percentage of each account you do, capped to ensure we have the fairest fee structure around. And we only charge when you do. So when you’re off hiking the Himalayas, you don’t have to worry about paying any membership fees!! Only pay for the work you do.
5. What billing software are they using?
You may find an excellent billing team with wonderful staff, but a team is only as effective as the software behind it. The software used matters so much – it determines everything from the experience your patients have pre-operatively, how efficiently your billing is processed and even if you can access it yourself.
Many companies still rely on outdated billing software simply because it’s what they’ve always used. Instead, look for a provider that uses modern, purpose-built solutions like Billumbra. Billumbra is a software designed with the right balance of powerful features and ease of use.
With a native mobile app built for simplicity, transparency and clinical support, Billumbra gives you immediate access to case details, clinical information and all the financial aspects. Whether you’re between appointments or working after hours, your practice is only a few taps away, no laptop required.
Choosing the right billing provider can have a meaningful impact on the efficiency, profitability, and long-term success of your anaesthetic private practice. These five questions are a practical starting point to help you assess whether a provider truly aligns with your needs, not just today, but as your practice grows.
Every practice is different, so don’t hesitate to dig deeper and ask the questions that matter most to you. The right partner should offer transparency, reliability, and the tools you need to stay in control of your billing.
If you’d like to explore these questions further or see how they apply in practice, get in touch with our friendly team members at Solo Practice Management please contact us here.