The intricacies of managing a certain healthcare practice are different for different medical specialties, but the people working in the Mental and Behavioral Health sector understand the distinct challenges they face on a daily basis. The clinical and administrative implications associated with managing a clinic or a hospital dealing in the Mental Health specialty are very exclusive and hence need to be dealt with properly.
A number of research studies and surveys have shown the real value of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software for clinics, yet finding the best EMR Solution can be a difficult task. The features of EMR Software Solutions vary widely and not all of them meet the complete needs of Mental/Behavioral Health professionals. Mental Health clinics require a certain type of Medical Billing, Patient Scheduling, and e-prescribing (e-Rx), therefore using an Electronic Health Records (EHR) Software designed specifically for these practices prove to be more effective than the general ones. But what really are the features of a Mental & Behavioral Health EMR Software? Let’s find out.
Patient Scheduling Tool
Outpatient healthcare services relating to mental health have mostly the same procedures and practices as being used in other medical specialties. Nevertheless, there is a different scheduling approach altogether when it comes to inpatient services. As patients are on waiting lists for available beds, automation through EHR Software allows an easy transition for the next patient to come in.
Other Patient Scheduling features that are used by mental health professionals include Group Patient Scheduling, Copayment Props, and automated Appointment Reminders. All of these are typically present in a Mental Health EMR Software.
Mental Health Billing
The Medical Billing tool of the Mental Health EMR Software can easily handle the challenges that cause endless headaches for the clinical staff. The software is able to keep a track of the total number of authorized visits and the maximum limit on dollar amounts.
The Medical Billing tool uses the Electronic Insurance Eligibility Verification to check all the insurance claims against the insurance providers. This makes all the insurance claims error-free and helps practices get faster reimbursements.
Revenue Cycle Management & Reporting
It is really important for the staff and the physicians to be able to assess the overall profitability and financial standing of the mental health practice. The EMR Software, in this case, should provide sufficient analysis and financial tracking measures to monitor and control the financial health and revenue of your practice. This is a valuable feature that helps support the Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) and actually drive results.
