subject: An EHR with Integrated Medical Billing Software Doesn't Have to Be Expensive [print this page] An EHR with Integrated Medical Billing Software Doesn't Have to Be Expensive
With EHRs / EMRs all over the news, along with the high dollar figures for the HITECH incentives, you are undoubtedly wondering if (or when) your practice should make the leapand how much it will cost you. The answer, of course, is that you should adopt an EHR when it's right for your practiceand when you do, be sure to get the EHR that your practice needs and not just what a software company has to sell.
When the time is right for you to adopt an EHR, remember that it doesn't have to be an expensive, over-complicated application, even if you want an EHR with integrated medical billing. There are low-cost options available that may provide the functionality you want, without the expensive bells and whistles you don't need.
Before you begin your search, take a moment to review the needs of your practice and draw up a list of those features you need. This will help you avoid being drawn in by sexy but unnecessary features that only cost you more. And be sure to hear from your colleagues about what EHR and medical billing software package is working for them; their experience can be invaluable for you.
Then, when you know what you truly need, take a look at the low- and no-cost options. Their functionality and ease of use may surprise you; some of these programs have been improving over the last year or two and now offer a depth of features that was unheard of in the past.
The leader in free EHRs, of course, is Practice Fusion. This highly popular web-based solution is designed to serve small practices in particularthe very practices that can't afford and don't need big, expensive systems. Kareo was sufficiently impressed by their offering to integrate our medical billing software with their application, providing the lowest-cost option on the market. Since Practice Fusion is free and Kareo has integrated plans starting as low as $149 per month, this EHR/medical billing software integration is much less expensive than the high ticket packages that were traditionally the only option available to practices.
Since we announced the integration, we have been pleased to hear from many Kareo customers that the integration with Practice Fusion is "seamless" and "one of the top platforms for the future."
So when your practice is ready for an EHRand not beforebe sure to:
Know what you need and what you don't need
Review the low- and no-cost options available for EHRs with integrated medical billing software
Talk to your colleagues about what EHR and medical billing software solutions are working for them
The steps sounds simple, but it's surprising how many people skip one or more and end up with a software package that is too complicated to work well for them, or just doesn't work for their practice. Be sure to get what your practiceneeds.
