Clinical Business Framework Office Hour March 9, 2026
Legal Case Evaluation Planning
Vineka shared updates about her recent birthday trip to San Diego with her stepdaughter and mentioned she had to cut short a 10-day detox due to the trip. She discussed her plans to draft an email to her attorney regarding a case evaluation, using insights from ChatGPT and Claude AI to explore potential benefits of delays in the valuation process. Vineka aims to finalize the email by the end of the day.
Billing Process Improvement Discussion
Vineka discussed her current billing process, which involves generating CPT codes and HCFA forms through her EHR, then uploading them to a clearinghouse system. She noted that her biller currently only tracks payments and EOBs, not underpayments or missing invoices. Vineka plans to meet with her biller tomorrow to clarify processes and review tracking methods. Jennie identified potential areas for improvement, such as double-checking that all patient encounters are included in billing batches.
Billing Process and Tracking Challenges
Vineka explained her billing process, which involves her daughter handling TMS and Spravato submissions through a template system, while her office manages monthly billing through a Google Sheet where a VA enters patient data and codes. The office visits are batched monthly, while TMS and Spravato submissions occur 3 times weekly, with Vineka noting that her daughter's meticulous approach results in more invoices but still experiences claim rejections. The team lacks a clear tracking system for revenue collection, making it difficult to determine the clean claims rate and identify missing payments, which Vineka acknowledged as a significant gap in their financial tracking process.
Revenue Tracking System Challenges
Jennie and Vineka discussed the challenges in tracking and reporting revenue, particularly the difficulty in accurately tracking collected amounts due to delays and incomplete data entry in the EHR system. Vineka explained that while the biller inputs payment information, not all collected amounts are recorded in the EHR, leading to inaccurate AR reports and a lack of transparency about profitable service lines. Jennie emphasized the importance of understanding the outcome of every claim, including whether it was paid, went to patient responsibility, or was rejected, and suggested expressing this information as a percentage.
Billing Process Improvement Discussion
Jennie and Vineka discussed billing processes and challenges, focusing on claims rates, clean claims, and payment reconciliation. They identified issues with the current manual process, including inaccurate AR reports and the need for better accountability for claim follow-through. Vineka mentioned plans to add billing for additional forms like the PHQ-9 and GAD, and Jennie suggested reconciling payments with invoices using the EMR system. Vineka also noted the need for digitalizing forms to improve efficiency and reach more patients.
Payment Reconciliation and Revenue Issues
Vineka and Jennie discussed issues with payment reconciliation and revenue capture. They explored the possibility of having Vineka's biller generate reports of EOBs to reconcile with bank statements, focusing on insurer-based payments. Vineka highlighted the problem of expired checks that were not deposited, and Jennie suggested reissuing them. They also discussed the need to ensure proper payment for extended codes, such as 91417, which Vineka stack for 4 hours per bottle visit. Vineka mentioned that while some insurers paid for only one code, appealing led to payment for all codes in some cases. They agreed to conduct a "reconcile" rather than an "audit" to review these issues, with Vineka's consultant already providing reports.
Billing Process Streamlining Discussion
Vineka discussed streamlining her billing process by implementing a simplified system for entering patient information and tracking claims. She plans to meet with her biller to review the new process and address issues with denied claims. Vineka emphasized the importance of creating a system to prevent errors and improve accountability, while also expressing her desire to support her current biller by providing a clear process to follow.
EHR Invoice Tracking Improvements
Vineka and Jennie discussed the issue of missing invoices in the EHR system, emphasizing the need for automated reports to track patient encounters without associated claims. Jennie suggested using their EMR system's reports to monitor outstanding claims and reduce AR days by submitting claims more frequently. Vineka acknowledged the need to improve efficiency, aiming to complete billing within 48 hours of finishing notes, and mentioned using AI tools to streamline documentation processes.
Medical Billing System Integration Discussion
Vineka and Jennie discussed medical billing processes, focusing on integrating systems for TMS and Spravato, addressing rejected claims, and improving overall billing efficiency. Vineka highlighted the need to close loops in billing issues, such as incorrect EOBs and patient responsibility, while Jennie emphasized the importance of attention to detail and understanding insurance patterns. They agreed on the need for regular audits, initially weekly, to monitor the new billing system once established. Vineka also acknowledged the need to generate accurate reports and requested assistance from the new biller to improve data collection and analysis.
Claims Audit Process Discussion
Jennie and Vineka discussed the claim cycle process, with Vineka explaining that claims take 2-3 weeks to process. They agreed to audit the claims from the first week of February and potentially go back 3 months to identify any missed payments. Vineka suggested dividing the work between two people, with one focusing on the past 3 months and the other on current submissions. They also discussed the varying timely filing windows for different insurance providers, ranging from 60 to 90 days, and the importance of establishing a process for checking and balancing claims to ensure payment.
Revenue Process Transparency and Incentives
Vineka and Jennie discussed the need for better transparency and strategic decision-making in revenue generation and billing processes. They explored the possibility of implementing a bonus-based system tied to collection rates and clean claims, aiming to incentivize the biller to improve performance. Vineka highlighted the importance of tracking ADHD claims and other revenue-generating activities to ensure proper financial management and strategic planning. Jennie emphasized the value of gathering comprehensive data to make informed decisions and optimize revenue streams.
Billing Process Improvement Discussion
Vineka discussed issues with billing processes and the need to improve tracking and collection of payments, which Jennie supported. They agreed to focus on refining the billing system and addressing gaps in processes, with a goal of having a new, streamlined system in place by next week. Vineka expressed some frustration with the current biller but decided to give them a full chance to improve before considering a change. Jennie encouraged Vineka to approach the situation with curiosity and to communicate positively with the biller about their capabilities.