You don't think twice about reviewing the bill before you pay the check at the restaurant, and you'll do a quick scan of the receipt before you leave the grocery store. You'll do a double check on the charges from your plumber's invoice for the same reason, too. Why? Because you want to be certain you've been billed fairly and accurately. We know how to review these bills but most of us would have a difficult time understanding our the detailed invoice from a hospital after a serious illness and lengthy stay. As the charges and coding rack up, unless you have an coding background you probably have very little idea of what you've been charged for and if the bill is true.
It was this issue that set Pat Palmer on a path to creating Medical Billing Advocates of America fifteen years ago. Today, her daughters help run the company and she teaches others how to create their own businesses as medical billing advocates. We'll hear her story and gain an understanding of why this is a timely and important service.
(01:41) In general describe what Medical Billing Advocates is all about.
(02:52) You are the founder and now have a CEO and COO. Who are those individuals?
(03:42) What is your background and how did you come about starting Medical Billing Advocates?
(06:10) Who is your customer? What entities need billing advocates?
(07:38) Did you start as a volunteer?
(08:20) How do you bill for your services?
(09:33) Where can people find out more?
(10:15) You have training materials for others to learn to become billing advocates. Talk about this program.
(12:57) What are some of the statistics about medical bills in terms of errors?
(14:06) Do you see the new health reform act having any impact on medical billing?
(15:55) How have we gotten to the place where there are such errors in medical billing?
(17:45) How do hospitals respond to seeing a medical advocate intervene?
(19:43) Can you share a couple of stories of incidents where you’ve been able to help with overcharges?
(23:04) Is having insurance a good thing or does it lend to making this billing issue worse?
(25:00) What kinds of marketing have worked well for you?
(26:59) Are you using social media to market?
(28:17) How do you find balance between business and the rest of your life?
(29:37) How do you deal with family dynamics since you work with your daughters and husband?
(31:05) What keeps you going when it is all so stressful?
(32:26) Where can people get more information?
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