Attend Billing & Collections Seminars & Get More Insight On Record Retention Rules

By Author: Julia Rose
Total Articles: 89
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What do you do if your practice is running out of space for storing your paper records? How do you keep them?


It's important to stock up billing and medical records - both paper and electronic - for two primary reasons. Previous records ensure your practice has all necessary information in the event of a lawsuit or payer issue and also provide historical information to help with current patient care.


As a rule, you need to keep stock of all medical and billing records for about seven years because that's how long the audit process can be in some instances. Experts are of the opinion that you should mirror your record retention policy with whatever the stature of the limitations is for suing on a contract is in your state.


A note of caution: Although you'll have easy electronic access to the electronic records, you'll do well to keep a copy of all paper records for the required amount of time as noted in your state's statutes. So if you are running out on space in your facility, you can keep the copies in a separate storage facility. There are many record-storage facilities ...
... which will make microfiche copies of your records and store them elsewhere to see to it that you have copies in two separate places in case disaster strikes.


Tip: How long you need to keep a minor's records varies from state to state. You may have to keep a minor patient's records until he attains the legal age.


For more of such billing and collections updates and tips, go for billing and collections seminars and conferences. In fact, there's a billing and collections conference coming up in Orlando, FL in December where you can head to and make the most of.


Gain knowledge about billing and collections conferences by attending proper billing and collections seminars along with premier coding experts, CDs, tapes and transcripts of coding training information by specialty.