Do you struggle with cardiology billing every day? Are claim denials eating your practice revenue? Over 160,000 healthcare providers use Athenahealth nationwide. Studies show practices see 98% clean claim rates. Collection rates improve by 3-5% within the first year. Cardiology practices report a 30% reduction in billing errors. Athenahealth processes over 1 billion claims annually.
Athenahealth offers cloud-based billing solutions for practices. The system specializes in complex cardiology billing needs. Over 15,000 medical practices trust Athenahealth systems. Average claim processing time drops to 24 hours. Practices save 20 hours weekly on billing tasks. First-pass claim acceptance rates reach 95% consistently. The platform supports over 140,000 healthcare providers.
Heart billing needs specialized knowledge and tools always. Athenahealth provides features made for cardiology practices. This guide explains why heart doctors choose Athenahealth. We cover key benefits and features below. You will learn how it improves revenue. Real practice results show measurable improvements.
Cardiology Billing Features
Athenahealth has features made for cardiology practices. The system knows complex heart coding needs. Built-in tools help cut billing errors.
Cardiology Code Libraries
The system has a complete CPT code library for cardiology. Pre-loaded codes cover diagnostic and interventional procedures. Templates help staff select the correct procedure codes. Built-in edit checks prevent common coding errors. Code descriptions match heart procedure doc requirements.
Claim Scrubbing
Software checks every claim before submission automatically. System catches missing or incorrect info immediately. Claim scrubbing cuts denials by 40% on average. Automated checks verify patient eligibility in real-time. System flags claims needing prior auth before submission. Clean claims go out within 24 hours.
Eligibility Verification
Check patient insurance coverage before every appointment instantly. System verifies benefits and coverage limits automatically. Staff see copay and deductible amounts immediately. Prior auth requirements display during the scheduling process. Real-time checks prevent surprise claim denials later.
Revenue Cycle
Athenahealth improves the entire revenue cycle for practices. From scheduling to payment posting runs smoothly. Practices see measurable financial improvements quickly.
Faster Payments
| Metric | Before | After |
| Clean Claim Rate | 85% | 98% |
| Days in A/R | 45 days | 28 days |
| Collection Rate | 92% | 97% |
| Denial Rate | 12% | 4% |
Denial Management
The system identifies denial patterns automatically for review. Staff receive alerts for all claim denials. Built-in workflows guide the denial resolution process efficiently. Analytics show which denials are most common. System tracks denial reasons by payer and procedure. Practices cut denials by 50% within six months.
Financial Reports
Dashboard shows the practice’s financial health at a glance. Reports track key performance indicators in real-time. Staff see exactly where revenue comes from. Payer performance reports identify slow-paying insurance companies. Custom reports help with financial planning decisions. Data exports easily for accountants and consultants.
Clinical Integration
Athenahealth connects billing with clinical work seamlessly. Doc flows directly into the billing system automatically. Staff work more efficiently with integrated systems.
EHR and Billing
Clinical notes link directly to billing codes. Charge capture happens automatically from the doc created. No duplicate data entry between systems is needed. Physicians document once, and charges post automatically. Integration cuts missed charges by 35% typically. Staff save 15 hours weekly on data entry.
Charge Capture
System suggests codes based on clinical doc. Charges post automatically when notes are signed. Missing charge alerts notify staff of unbilled services. Procedure codes update based on documented services. Staff review suggested charges before claim submission. Practices capture 20% more revenue with automation.
Patient Portal
- Patients view bills and make payments online
- Automated payment reminders cut collection time
- Online payments process faster than paper checks
Compliance Support
Athenahealth keeps practices compliant with changing rules. System updates automatically when regulations change.
Automatic Updates
System updates for new CPT codes happen automatically. ICD-10 code changes integrate without staff action. Medicare fee schedule updates apply system-wide instantly. Payer policy changes are updated in the system automatically. Staff never worry about outdated codes or rules. Practices stay compliant without manual tracking needed.
HIPAA Compliance
Cloud-based system meets all HIPAA security requirements. Data encryption protects patient information during transmission. Audit logs track all access to patient records. Automatic backups prevent data loss from disasters. Business associate agreement included with service contract.
Quality Reporting
System tracks MIPS quality measures automatically throughout the year. Reports are generated for PQRS submissions easily and quickly. Quality data exports for registry submissions when needed. Alerts notify staff of quality measure opportunities. Dashboard shows practice performance against quality benchmarks.
Cost and ROI
Athenahealth’s pricing model aligns with practice revenue. No large upfront costs required for setup. Practices see a positive return on investment quickly.
Pricing Model
Practices pay a percentage of collections, not revenue. No charges when practice does not collect payment. Pricing includes all updates and support services. No hidden fees or surprise billing charges. Cost scales with practice size and revenue. Smaller practices pay less than large groups. Budget planning becomes easier with predictable costs.
Staff Reduction
| Task | Hours Before | Hours After | Time Saved |
| Claim Submission | 20 hrs/week | 5 hrs/week | 15 hrs/week |
| Payment Posting | 15 hrs/week | 4 hrs/week | 11 hrs/week |
| Denial Management | 12 hrs/week | 4 hrs/week | 8 hrs/week |
| Reporting | 8 hrs/week | 2 hrs/week | 6 hrs/week |
Financial Gains
Practices see revenue increase of 5-10% first year. Collection rates improve by an average of 3-5 percent. Days in accounts receivable drop by 35 percent. Denial rates decrease by half within six months. Staff productivity increases by 30 percent on average. Return on investment averages 12-18 months typically.
Support Services
Athenahealth provides comprehensive support for all practices. Training programs help staff learn the system quickly. Ongoing support ensures practices maximize system benefits.
Setup
Dedicated team guides practice through setup. Training begins before the go-live date for all staff. Custom workflows are built based on practice needs. Data migration handled by the Athenahealth technical team. Go-live support ensures a smooth transition from the old system. Average setup takes 60-90 days to complete.
Ongoing Help
24/7 phone support available for urgent issues. An online knowledge base provides instant answers to questions. Regular webinars cover system updates and tips. Annual user conference offers networking and advanced training. Dedicated account manager assigned to each practice. Support tickets are resolved within 24 hours on average.
Community
- User community forum connects practices nationwide
- Best practice sharing helps practices learn from peers
- Performance benchmarks show how practice compares
Conclusion
Athenahealth provides a complete billing solution for cardiology practices. Specialized features cut errors and improve revenue. Integration with clinical systems improves efficiency significantly. Compliance support keeps practices current with regulations. A cost-efficient pricing model aligns with practice success. Strong support services ensure practices maximize benefits.
FAQs
How much does Athenahealth cost for cardiology practices?
Pricing is based on collections. It typically ranges from 4-8 percent. Smaller practices pay less than large groups. No upfront costs needed for setup.
How long does setup take?
Average setup takes 60-90 days to finish. Training begins before the go-live date. Most practices are operational within three months. A dedicated team guides practice through the entire setup.
Does Athenahealth work with existing EHR systems?
Yes, it works with many EHR systems. Clinical notes link directly to billing codes. Charge capture happens automatically from the doc. No duplicate data entry needed between systems.
What kind of help is available?
24/7 phone support available for urgent issues. An online knowledge base provides instant answers. Regular webinars cover system updates and tips. Dedicated account manager assigned to each practice.
Can small heart practices afford Athenahealth?
Yes, pricing scales with practice size. Smaller practices pay less than large groups. Cost includes all updates and support. No hidden fees or surprise charges.
