Frequently Asked EHR Questions

Why are you not showing the version of the EHR/EMR products that was certified?

Medical software technology is constantly changing and most of these Electronic Medical Record/Electronic Health Record EMR/EHR software vendors are releasing new updates to their medical products on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. Once they become CCHIT certified they will most likely enhance their medical software around the certification course to re-certify at a later date. Some electronic health record software vendors have already re-certified their newer software versions through CCHIT:

• NextGen EMR version 5.3
• NextGen EMR version 5.4.28
• Practice Partner version 9
• Practice Partner version 9.1
• Practice Partner version 9.2
• iMedical Corporation version 5.1
• iMedical Corporation version 6.0
• Intergy EHR by Sage version 3.00
• Intergy EHR by Sage version 3.50

What does it cost to become CCHIT certified?

At this time a electronic health record software company would pay an initial fee of $28,000.00 to take the CCHIT certification test. If the software vendor would like to "hold" this title past the 12 month period the EHR/EMR vendor will need to pay a $4,800 software maintenance fee. For those EHR/EMR vendors who want to submit a new medical software version of the product they would need to pay $23,200 for the certification test again.

It's an interesting twist that many people have blogged about. How does this effect the medical doctors and do these fees get passed on to the medical practice? Also, does this stump technology since Electronic Health Records/Electronic Medical Record vendors are essentially "dinged" for enhancing the medical software and releasing new updates? Will most EHR/EMR vendors decide to re-certify every year to hold the title or does it make sense to only re-certify every 2-3 years. I guess only time will tell but one thing is certain Electronic Health Record/Electronic Medical Record software vendors are signing up to complete the certification test to tell customers that the medical software is secure, safe and works.

Does my medical office need Electronic Medical Records, Electronic Health Records and/or Electronic Chart Files?

If you are frustrated maintaining HIPAA compliance with paper medical charts, losing medical paperwork, and feeling like patient information is not readily accessible to the medical practice it maybe time to look into purchasing a Electronic Health Records/Electronic Medical Record medical software.

What does it mean when a Electronic Medical Records, Electronic Health Records and/or Electronic Chart Files has a practice management software?

Your office needs to ask yourself 1 question. What does your medical office need right now. Are you looking for new practice management medical billing software, does it need to integrate with your existing medical billing service practice management software or do you want a new practice management and Electronic Medical Record/Electronic Health Record software in one package?

Staying with your existing Practice Management software?

If your medical office is choosing to use the existing practice management software my first recommendation is to call your practice management vendor and ask them what EMR/EHR software vendors they are currently partnered with? What portals do they interface HL7 or API?

Medical Billing service owns practice management software, doctor has an appointment scheduler integrated with the Medical billing service software?

Call your medical billing service and let them know that you are looking for a Electronic Health Record/Electronic Medical Record software. First identify if they are currently using any medical software programs if not have them follow up with the medical software vendor (if they are paying the medical software vendor fees) to identify interfacing options and who they are partnered with at this time.

You are ready to ditch your medical practice management software and start from scratch.

At this point your options are endless. You have over 89 CCHIT certified EHR/EMR vendors and 100 other EHR/EMR vendors (currently not certified). Then you throw in 100+ medical billing practice management software options and you can also play the mix and match software vendor game. The options are endless and sometimes overwhelming. We recommend that you visit this web site often to help find the right resources for your medical business.

Where to start?

Make a check list including things you like about your existing medical billing software and things you need:

• What features do you need to function with the appointment scheduler
• Patient Portal
• Physician to Physician Portal
• Labs
• ePrescription
• Confirmation Phone Call software
• Web based or Server Based
• Billing module with what key features
• Collections module with what key features
• Credit Cards online
• Web Site for your medical practice
• Online Document and Image Storage
• Charting
• Should the software be integrated with the clearinghouse or does your office want to deal with the clearinghouse?
• Co-branding (do you want to label the software with your company logo usually for bigger offices or billing services)

Now that you have your check list you are ready to review the Medical billing Services web page. Find the names of the medical software vendors that meet your basic criteria and click on their names to read more. Once you find the top 4-7 medical billing software vendors that seem to meet most of your needs visit their medical billing software website and talk with them directly for quotes, pricing and a demo of their medical billing software.

Is it possible to find a perfect Medical Billing Software?

Yes. But remember what may be perfect for one medical practice may be horrible for another medical practice. These medical software (& EHR/EMR) vendors are constantly improving their medical software with weekly, monthly, quarterly enhancement releases to "wow" YOU the medical doctor and retain your business because they know you have choices. Yes, It is possible to find a great medical billing software today.

Why use medical billing software pro's website?

After many years of consulting doctors it seemed like we kept getting the same question, "is there anything better?" Well, we hope to answer that question through this medical billing software review website.

This website was specifically created for medical doctors and office staff to gain the knowledge needed prior to making the phone call to a medical software vendor. You will no longer be on a software demonstration wondering if this is the best it gets.

Our hope is that this medical website gives you the power you need to make the right decision for your medical practice needs. You have some wonderful medical billing software vendors to choose from and we wish you the very best in your decision to find that perfect medical billing software & electronic health records, electronic medical records and medical charting records.