After medical claims have been created, they are checked for errors and omissions:
Even when accepted for processing or Adjudication by the insurance payer, the claim may still be adjusted or denied due to coding issues.
When claims get rejected or denied, the provider does not get paid.
The longer a claim remains unpaid, the less likely it will be paid.
Unpaid claims = Unhappy Provider!
When claims are denied or rejected, the causes typically fall into one of three categories:
There are errors encountered when the claim is transmitted electronically from the clearinghouse to the insurance payer. These are usually administrative issues.
There are also errors detected during processing by the insurance payer as indicated on the ERA or EOB. These errors are usually coding or documentation errors but can also be administrative or situations where data doesn't match what the payer has for a patient or provider.
When insurance payments are adjusted, reason or explanation codes will be provided on the remittance advice.
All insurance payers are required under HIPAA laws to use ANSI standards for CARC and RARC codes to explain remittance advice adjustments or explanations.
There can be several types of adjustments to insurance payments given on the ERA or EOB and explained by the CARC code.
Typical reason codes on an Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) describing why a claim is denied for reasons other than administrative or typographical errors include:
The claim appeal process should be used when additional explanation or documentation will address these issues and hopefully resolve the claim.
Error’s encountered at the clearinghouse or when transmitted to insurance payer do not follow the CARC or RARC conventions.
Payers have different conventions and explanations in explaining why a claim was rejected. They each have different conventions and requirements. Explanations may include reference to the location or “loop” in the electronic file which can be difficult to understand.
Once accepted by the insurance payer, any claim adjustments or denials should be explained using the standard CARC and RARC codes.
The claim appeal process is used when additional explanation or documentation will resolve the insurance payers reason for denial or reduction in payment. It’s also used when you don’t agree with the payers reason for denial or adjusted payment.
The remittance advice will provide instructions for appealing a claim.
Insurance payers have a different process for appealing a denied claim. Some may require a form completed and signed by the provider. Others may accept a letter of appeal and provide instructions. Others may have an online appeal process that allows additional information to be sent or uploaded electronically.
Medicare or government payers may require use of a standard appeal form such as the CMS-20027 appeal form.
<< Back To Introduction to Medical Billing Page
Mar 31, 18 09:47 AM
Besides networking .. visiting their offices, how else can you attract their business? When you close the collections month, how do you bill the physicians?
Mar 31, 18 09:36 AM
I have a potential client that is requested claim scrubbing resolutions (only corrections on claims submission errors) and insurance verification on the
Mar 31, 18 09:28 AM
The provider that I bill for just advised that he has a new tax ID. What is the process for this change? Would every insurance company need to be contacted?
All-Things-Medical-Billing.com provides this website as a service. Please read our full Disclaimer and Privacy Policy here.
Copyright 2018 All-Things-Medical-Billing.com