Laboratory Tests Help Confirm Swine Flu Cases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising doctors and other health care providers to consider testing for Swine influenza in patients who present with flu-like symptoms. If the initial flu test is positive for influenza A, the laboratory performing the initial test will send the sample to their state Public Health Laboratory or the CDC to perform tests that detect the swine-origin H1N1 virus.
BTL offers a choice of either Client Billing or Direct Billing. The Direct Billing option includes Patient, Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial Insurance billing. When choosing Direct Billing, all patient demographic and billing information must be supplied on the BTL requisition form. {In the event all billing information is not provided for Direct Billing, the patient`s test charges will be billed directly to your account}.
For billing questions not addressed here, call us at (800) 343-1127.
Client Billing
Clients will receive monthly-itemized invoices, which include the date of service (transaction date), patient`s name, requisition number, test description, and fee. Invoices are due in full upon receipt and must be paid within thirty days of invoice date. Corrections to the invoice (e.g., change in bill type of Client to Direct Bill) must be received by BTL within 45 days of invoice date. Any charges unpaid after 30 days will be subject to a 1.5% per month interest charge until paid. Fees are subject to change without notice.
Direct Patient Billing
BTL will bill patients directly when complete patient demographic information is supplied and the !Charge to: Patient! option is checked on the BTL requisition. The patient`s complete name, address, zip code, and telephone number with area code must appear clearly on the requisition when choosing this billing option. Patients under the age of eighteen years must also have a responsible party indicated on the requisition for billing. Fees for patient billing are in accordance with the usual and customary fees charged by the medical community and are subject to change without notice.
Direct Medicare/Medicaid/Commercial Insurance Billing
BTL will bill numerous government and private payers directly when complete patient demographic and billing information is supplied and the appropriate !Charge to! option is checked on the BTL requisition. Whenever possible, please provide a copy of both the front and back of the patient`s insurance card(s). If the insurance card is not available, the following information MUST be provided on the BTL requisition:
Patient name, address, zip code and telephone number
Patient sex and birth date
Responsible party
Insurance name, identification number(s), and validation dates
ICD-9 Diagnosis code or written, narrative diagnosis, sign or symptom for each test ordered
Note: Many insurance cards do not provide all necessary information for proper claim submission. Please review the information contained on the card and provide any missing information directly on the BTL requisition. Please provide name and address where claims are to be submitted for any unusual insurance carrier.
Pathology Billing
Unless otherwise specified, BTL will bill clients a global fee for Cytology and Surgical Pathology services. The global fee includes the technical processing charge as well as the professional pathology fees for reading, interpretation and diagnosis.
Direct Medicare/Medicaid/Commercial Insurance Billing Info
BTL will bill government and private payers for only the technical component charge associated with specimen processing and testing.
