Athenahealth offers cloud-based billing solutions for practices. The system specializes in complex cardiology billing needs. Over 15,000 medical practices trust Athenahealth systems. Average claim processing time drops to 24 hours. Practices save 20 hours weekly on billing tasks. First-pass claim acceptance rates reach 95% consistently. The platform supports over 140,000 healthcare providers.
Heart billing needs specialized knowledge and tools always. Athenahealth provides features made for cardiology practices. This guide explains why heart doctors choose Athenahealth. We cover key benefits and features below. You will learn how it improves revenue. Real practice results show measurable improvements.
Cardiology Billing Features
Athenahealth has features made for cardiology practices. The system knows complex heart coding needs. Built-in tools help cut billing errors.
Cardiology Code Libraries
The system has a complete CPT code library for cardiology. Pre-loaded codes cover diagnostic and interventional procedures. Templates help staff select the correct procedure codes. Built-in edit checks prevent common coding errors. Code descriptions match heart procedure doc requirements.
Claim Scrubbing
Software checks every claim before submission automatically. System catches missing or incorrect info immediately. Claim scrubbing cuts denials by 40% on average. Automated checks verify patient eligibility in real-time. System flags claims needing prior auth before submission. Clean claims go out within 24 hours.
Eligibility Verification
Check patient insurance coverage before every appointment instantly. System verifies benefits and coverage limits automatically. Staff see copay and deductible amounts immediately. Prior auth requirements display during the scheduling process. Real-time checks prevent surprise claim denials later.
Revenue Cycle
Athenahealth improves the entire revenue cycle for practices. From scheduling to payment posting runs smoothly. Practices see measurable financial improvements quickly.
Denial Management
The system identifies denial patterns automatically for review. Staff receive alerts for all claim denials. Built-in workflows guide the denial resolution process efficiently. Analytics show which denials are most common. System tracks denial reasons by payer and procedure. Practices cut denials by 50% within six months.
Financial Reports
Dashboard shows the practice’s financial health at a glance. Reports track key performance indicators in real-time. Staff see exactly where revenue comes from. Payer performance reports identify slow-paying insurance companies. Custom reports help with financial planning decisions. Data exports easily for accountants and consultants.
Clinical Integration
Athenahealth connects billing with clinical work seamlessly. Doc flows directly into the billing system automatically. Staff work more efficiently with integrated systems.
EHR and Billing
Clinical notes link directly to billing codes. Charge capture happens automatically from the doc created. No duplicate data entry between systems is needed. Physicians document once, and charges post automatically. Integration cuts missed charges by 35% typically. Staff save 15 hours weekly on data entry.
Charge Capture
System suggests codes based on clinical doc. Charges post automatically when notes are signed. Missing charge alerts notify staff of unbilled services. Procedure codes update based on documented services. Staff review suggested charges before claim submission. Practices capture 20% more revenue with automation.
Patient Portal
- Patients view bills and make payments online
- Automated payment reminders cut collection time
- Online payments process faster than paper checks
Compliance Support
Athenahealth keeps practices compliant with changing rules. System updates automatically when regulations change.
Automatic Updates
System updates for new CPT codes happen automatically. ICD-10 code changes integrate without staff action. Medicare fee schedule updates apply system-wide instantly. Payer policy changes are updated in the system automatically. Staff never worry about outdated codes or rules. Practices stay compliant without manual tracking needed.
HIPAA Compliance
Cloud-based system meets all HIPAA security requirements. Data encryption protects patient information during transmission. Audit logs track all access to patient records. Automatic backups prevent data loss from disasters. Business associate agreement included with service contract.
Quality Reporting
System tracks MIPS quality measures automatically throughout the year. Reports are generated for PQRS submissions easily and quickly. Quality data exports for registry submissions when needed. Alerts notify staff of quality measure opportunities. Dashboard shows practice performance against quality benchmarks.
Cost and ROI
Athenahealth’s pricing model aligns with practice revenue. No large upfront costs required for setup. Practices see a positive return on investment quickly.
Pricing Model
Practices pay a percentage of collections, not revenue. No charges when practice does not collect payment. Pricing includes all updates and support services. No hidden fees or surprise billing charges. Cost scales with practice size and revenue. Smaller practices pay less than large groups. Budget planning becomes easier with predictable costs.