2. Quickstart: Submit Claims

Run preptags

You can find the preptags program in the Electronic Claims section of the Billing Functions window in Partner Programs. You can also run it from a command prompt.

Watch for On-Screen Errors and Problems With Your Claims

As preptags runs, it will sort your claims. Claims that need to be printed will be placed in a paper batch for later printing by the hcfa program.

preptags will also verify that all of the patient and account claim information is available. If something is missing, you will see an error message on the screen:

In the example above, the patient's birthdate is missing. You should press [F6 -- Patient Editor], enter the patient's birthdate, and then press F1 to save and continue.

Press [F3 -- Ignore Error] to skip the problem and continue claim processing.

If you ignore the error, the claim's tag will be discarded. It will appear on a Bad Claims report and you will need to fix the problem and rebatch the claim in oops. If you do not fix and rebatch the claim, you will never receive reimbursement for the charge.

Review the preptags/tagsplit Bad Claims Report

Once preptags is finished, a report will print out of your default printer. It lists any claims that had errors you did not fix. To learn more about this and other electronic claims reports, read Review Electronic Claim Submission Reports. You should fix each error listed, rebatch the claim, and then re-run preptags.

Run ECS (This Step May Be Automated)

You can launch the ECS program from the same Partner window as preptags, or type ECS at a command prompt.

For most offices, ECS will run automatically when preptags finishes. You will see a message telling you that:

        This completes the electronic claims error checking (preptags) process.
        Next, I'll run the `ECS' program so you may submit the queued claims.
 
        On the following screen you may choose <F2> to select individual
        claim batches or <F3> to select all available (recommended).  Once
        selected, press <F1> to process and submit.
        Press <enter> to continue
			

Select Batches to Send

ECS will present you with the following screen:

Press [F3 -- Select All] and then press [F1 -- Process] to send all prepared claims.

Once ECS finishes processing all the claims, the program will quit. Your actual submission might occur later if your modem is busy. Even if your modem and internet connection are currently down, Partner will keep trying to submit your claims until your connection becomes available again.

Run hcfa to Print Paper Claims

You can run HCFA from the Insurance Billing section of your Partner Windows or by typing hcfa at a command prompt. Claims that could not be sent electronically will be waiting in hcfa in a paper batch. You can run hcfa at any time, select the batch(es) you wish to print, and generate paper HCFA forms.

Read Incoming ECS Reports

Several different reports will be sent to your practice as your claims move from your office to PCC, to the claim clearing-house, and finally to the insurance carrier. Read the EDI Reports manual to learn how to read your reports. Many reports show claim errors and should be reviewed carefully:

• ProxyMed Daily Verification Report

• ProxyMed Payor Response Report

• McKesson Exclusion Claims Report

• McKesson Carrier Acknowledgement Report

A copy of each report is stored in the ecsreports program for later viewing.