Physicians are realizing it is cost effective for them to outsource their billing than hire in house and pay vacations, sick days, and holidays. In addition more and more physicians are graduating from medical school and have not been educated in medical billing. The field is wide open and medical billing is one of the top 10 businesses of the 90's and will be as we go into the next century. Electronic filing of insurance claims allows you to use a modem and file claims directly to the clearinghouse. The claims you submit via modem are received the moment you send them.
Insurance companies process electronic claims before they process paper claims.
The turn around time for an electronic claim is 10-14 days vs. 28 days for a paper claim. Faster payment means a faster reimbursement for a physician. Think of a clearinghouse as a room with computers where your computer dials into their computer. It eliminates postage and mailing claims to numerous insurance companies. You need a computer, modem and printer.