Practice Management Alert

Making sure you get concrete answers to all of your questions is critical when you-re choosing an MPM software vendor and system.

Add the following questions to your list to ensure you-re getting the best system for your practice:

- Will the software be able to send a claim/encounter form in the HIPAA standard X12 837 content and data format to all payers?

- Is the entire system considered HIPAA-compliant?

- How are upgrades handled? Are they included in the initial cost? How often are upgrades performed? Do they require much system downtime and a new version of the software? It's important to check on how often the company will perform upgrades, the cost of those upgrades and the service level of the provider.

- What are the costs: initial, upgrade, maintenance, integration, etc.?

- Am I allowed/able to purchase add-ons such as an electronic health records (EHR) system from another company to ensure I get the best products for my practice? Does the vendor support integration, meaning will they work with another vendor to make sure their products work together?

- What training and follow-up support does your company provide to my office staff?