Why Acupuncturists Prefer Medical Billing & Coding Services

Acupuncture has deep roots in Western culture dating back to the early days of European-Chinese relations. But it has always separated itself from mainstream medicine. It’s a last resort when conventional treatments prove insufficient, typically practiced in more casual settings like backrooms, massage parlors, or small offices.

It is standardized and orthodox in the sense that it has historical significance and ancient origins, but it’s frequently faced with skepticism, and it has not been not held to the same rigorous standards as mainstream medical practices.

However, in recent years, there has been a notable convergence of Western scientific principles with Eastern healing traditions. This has led practitioners to increasingly recognize the potential efficacy of acupuncture, resulting in its swift integration into mainstream clinical care settings. With this growing popularity, however, comes a host of new regulations and administrative hurdles.

Acupuncturists now find themselves grappling with a surge of bureaucratic demands and administrative complexities akin to those in conventional healthcare. Staying on top of billing codes and navigating through the evolving regulatory landscape can be particularly challenging, especially when each patient requires personalized attention, one needle at a time.

In the midst of this growing acceptance, successfully balancing patient care with administrative tasks requires heightened effort and scrutiny. Today, we explore how acupuncturists can leverage the expertise of specialized firms like Millenium Medical Billing to efficiently manage these challenges and maximize their impact on patient wellness.

What is Medical Billing and Coding?

If acupuncturists want to be compensated for their services, they have to go through a complex process known as medical billing and coding. It’s complicated beyond measure, and it’s not for the faint of heart. 

Billing begins with records. Medical billers research patients, gather all of their information, including information pertaining to their insurance provider, and make sure that it’s up to date. They’re also charged with maintaining contact with the insurance company and navigating their system to facilitate payments and claims.

Coding is the process of linking various aspects of care, including services and equipment with standardized codes. All of this is tied in with a patient’s records. Whenever a patient undergoes a session with an acupuncturist, whatever happens during that session is notated in the records and coded using the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). It’s a coder’s job to make sure that process moves seamlessly without error. 

Acupuncture Poses a Unique Challenge to Billers and Coders

Acupuncturists are well aware of just how difficult medical billing and coding can be in their field. There are many factors that go into this. The main problem is the coding. Codes are constantly changing, making it difficult for practitioners to keep up. 

This is happening for several reasons. First, acupuncture is a vast, complicated field, built on an ancient system dating back over 3,000 years. There are many different forms of treatment, which means that practitioners offer a vast array of services–all of which require a code. 

New forms of treatment are constantly being adopted as the field evolves. Doctors are modifying old techniques. Modern practitioners are reinventing the art, and scientists have begun creating their own variations. All of those require new codes. 

If acupuncturists want to keep up with this trend, they may have to take on new codes every month while simultaneously managing their practice and treating their patients. Nobody has time for all of that. 

Coding isn’t the only problem for acupuncturists. Doctors might be willing to accept acupuncturists with open arms, but regulators and insurance companies are less than welcoming. The infrastructure for billing systems aren’t always there. Policy issues, stigma, and old laws are still a major barrier, and more often than not, acupuncturists aren’t capable of crossing that hurdle alone. 

Let the Experts Take Over: Millennium Medical Billing Can Get the Job Done

Are you unfamiliar with billing and coding practices? Are you overloaded with paperwork? Wouldn’t you prefer to focus on your patients instead? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then it might be time to hire a professional. 

Millenium Medical Billing draws on more than a decade of experience to provide seamless, error-free services that ensure maximum profitability. If you’re ready to hand over the gauntlet, call us at (718) 356-1337 or contact us online.