Artificial intelligence might take over the world,” as if it’s a plot from a sci-fi movie. However, artificial intelligence is also spreading its roots in medical billing. People think AI could replace jobs, but it’s creating new opportunities.
Back when computers were new, folks worried about job loss. Looking back, computers led to software and the internet. The IT field adds a lot to a country’s income.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Artificial Intelligence is when machines do tasks without much or any human help. This happens by using logic or teaching machines to do tasks over and over. Machines learn to respond to past situations. Siri and Alexa are examples of Artificial Intelligence. AI is used in many areas like making things, Primary Care Services, teaching, transportation, health, sports, media, talking to others, games, farming, online business, electronics, hotels, fun, houses, events, government, safety from computer problems, space, and more.
5 Big Improvements of Artificial Intelligence in medical billing
Medical billing is when a hospital gives a patient treatment and a bill is made by a medical biller using info from a medical coder. The bill is then sent to the insurance company to ask for payment for the patient’s expenses.
The money that can be asked from the insurance company depends on the patient’s plan rules. Whatever the insurance doesn’t pay, the patient has to.
Though medical billing seems easy, it has problems. There are lots of codes, steps, typing, and paperwork. This makes mistakes more likely to happen.
But, we can use robots to do these jobs and make fewer mistakes. Here are 5 big changes artificial Intelligence can make in medical billing.
Innovation 1: Fixing Mistakes in Codes Automatically
Medical codes are like labels for different medical things. Every year, new codes are added. This makes it hard for medical coders to remember all of them.
Even if the codes are put into a computer, mistakes still happen. Mistakes waste time and money. This is a big problem for hospitals, EHR companies, and medical billing services.
Tech companies are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help in the medical billing and coding process. They want to stop coding mistakes. In the future, we might see codes fixing themselves as we type. The computer will tell us if there’s a mistake and how to fix it, like when Microsoft Word shows red and green lines for writing errors.
We already have AI that helps us type on our phones. Soon, we might have AI for medical codes. This AI will work using the rules given to it. It can also learn from the past. It’s bright and can solve complex problems.
Innovation 2: Making Repetitive Tasks Automatic
We might see another new idea in the medical billing field: making tasks automatic. In medical billing, there are lots of tasks that happen over and over again. This uses up a lot of the billers’ time. AI could help these billers work better and make their jobs less boring.
When time is saved, billers can then work more on essential things like taking care of patients and looking at reports. This will help them be more energetic and get more done. Whenever the job involves following a set of usual steps, or what we call rule-based tasks, automation can be used. Some examples are writing down information and checking if someone’s insurance is valid.
Innovation 3: Making Pre-authorization Easier with Automation
Pre-authorization means getting permission from your insurance company before getting specific medical treatments. You only need pre-authorization for some treatments, only for specific medical issues listed in your insurance policy.
Sometimes, hospitals and patients need clarification on whether a condition requires pre-authorization. This can cause delays in payments and even denials. This is where artificial Intelligence can help.
Since pre-authorization follows specific rules, it can be automated using AI. This is a type of AI that follows set rules. Using AI can make it easier to avoid denials.
Right now, patients often find out they need pre-authorization after getting treatment. With AI, patients will know upfront if their treatment is covered by insurance. This will bring more clarity to insurance claims right from the start.
Innovation 4: Teaching New Hires
Here’s another way we can use artificial Intelligence. Sometimes, new people join a company that does medical billing. Companies usually have classes to teach new people what to do.
The teacher picks a day in medical billing companies, and all the new people come to learn. But the new people start on different days. So, the teaching gets pushed back until a group is ready. This means the real work begins late.
If we use AI for teaching, new people can learn and start sooner. With AI, we can make a particular system for learning. It will have text and pictures to help people learn. This system will take people through different lessons and test how well they learn.
After finishing all the lessons, they must pass a test online. They need an excellent score to pass. Sometimes, they get tested after each class. This saves time and money. People become experts faster. If needed, a teacher can check how well someone passes.
Innovation 5: Chatbots for Helping Patients
Another AI tool used in businesses is chatbots. We can use AI-based chatbots to answer questions from patients. Patients can use a chat app to learn about their medical history, reports, insurance claims, upcoming appointments, etc.
Moreover, this AI-powered chatbot can also answer common questions from patients. We can also use the same tool to update patients about their insurance and other claims.
Key Takeaways
- AI’s growth brings new job opportunities, unlike historical fears of job loss due to technology.
- AI-powered virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa showcase its capabilities.
- AI finds applications in various sectors, from manufacturing to healthcare, entertainment to aerospace.
- 5 AI innovations will impact medical billing: auto-correcting codes, task automation, pre-authorization streamlining, AI-powered training, and patient-service chatbots.
