06/28/2002    Art Hatfield, DPM

HIPAA Compliant Software

Query: HIPAA Compliant Software
From: Art Hatfield, DPM

I practice in Southern California and am looking
for new software to meet the new HIPAA
requirements. Does anyone know of a basic
package that will bill directly to Medicare and
other insurers without going through a
clearinghouse. I am not interested in
electronic scheduling, notes, inventory,
accounts payable or payroll capabilities. Just
a simple program to file the insurance claims,
create the monthly statements and do the ledger.

Art Hatfield, DPM
Long Beach, CA
AFOOTJOB@Juno.Com

Other messages in this thread:

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11/06/2002    Jerry Miles, DPM

HIPAA Compliant Software (Aimee Cathleen Judy, PMAC, PRT)

RE: HIPAA Compliant Software (Aimee Cathleen
Judy, PMAC, PRT)
From: Jerry Miles, DPM

I have used DR. then switched to Wisdom, We
are now on the latest version of Wisdom and using
their appointment scheduler. We have 21 computers
on a IP/TCP server based network. We also have a
satellite office that we bill for and have it
added as a separate company.
Although the earlier Wisdom version had some
issues the current version operates flawlessly.
It has taken some tweaking to make it happen, but
Wisdom support has been there all the way.
I highly recommend Wisdom it has kept up
with our office and has many reports available to
help manage your practice. Currently the server
and wisdom operate in our computer closet, the
only maintenance is to change the backup tape,
which in two years we have not had to use.

Feel free to contact my office manager Sherry
Goller Sherrygoller@footanklecenter.net

Jerry Miles, DPM
Houston, TX
drmiles@footanklecenter.net

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11/05/2002    Gregory Markantone, DPM

HIPAA Compliant Software (Aimee Cathleen Judy, PMAC, PRT)

RE: HIPAA Compliant Software (Aimee Cathleen
Judy, PMAC, PRT)
From: Gregory Markantone, DPM

Our office has been using DBC software for
2+ years, formerly we were using Soft easy
software, which was bought out by Infocure as
well. They tried hard to push us into Wisdom, a
colleague of mine had switched from DR software
to wisdom and had nothing but problems and a huge
expense. They have now switched to DBC as well.
DBC is a very powerful windows program, that can
be used for multiple doctors and/or specialties
and unlimited facilities. There is over 1,000
reports you can run, accounts are easy to track
and follow. Billing and posting is straight
forward as well. It can integrate with Microsoft
windows, for variety of mail merges. We are able
to directly submit to Medicare and BS with no
fees, our other commercial insurances can go
through the clearing house with a nominal fee per
claim.
This program will be HIPAA compliant too. In
2 years our accounts receivables have never been
so low past 60 days. The cost of the program is
around $3500.00 for a networked system (multiple
terminals in office), the support runs about
1200.00 dollars per year, in our two years their
has not been a support increase. The best part
of the company is the support one can get. When
you call, 9 times out of 10 you will speak to
someone live directly, it is not necessary to
leave your name and phone number.
If you are interested In DBC software I would
Notify: Thompson Medical Systems in Erie, Speak
to Russ Thompson himself. By the way you can get
a free download of program to try out online

Gregory Markantone, DPM
Latrobe, PA
DocJohnson313@attbi.com

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11/04/2002    Drs. Oatman, Holmes, Caputo, Dwyer, Simmons

HIPAA Compliant Software (Aimee Cathleen Judy, PMAC, PRT)

RE: HIPAA Compliant Software (Aimee Cathleen
Judy, PMAC, PRT)
From: Drs. Oatman, Holmes, Caputo, Dwyer, Simmons

Not so! I have been using DR since 1986
(client #35!).Vitalworks has undertaken to modify
DR to be HIPAA electronic claims compliant. We
were quoted an update fee of $1000. One feature
we don't like - all electronic claims have to go
through their clearing house for a monthly fee of
$89 per provider for unlimited claims. Their one
tech help rep is a former podiatrist office
manager who works out of her home in CA. She is
very good. They say they will continue to
support DR for a while just because there are so
many clients out there. One problem is that DR
works best under Windows 98, and has great
problems working in a "DOS box" under Windows
2000 and XP.
My business manager and I are looking into
something called DBC software as an alternative,
but I am very reluctant to change (for the
hassles, also having to reenter everything and
loosing the account histories. Good luck!

Tremaine B Oatman, DPM
Mentor, OH
tboatman@ameritech.net

-----------------

I also used DR software and liked it a
lot. In early 2000, I switched to Wisdom. It was
alright at first, but the software database was
changed to SQL. After that change, Wisdom has a
habit of locking up your computer. You can't
convert the data to another program. Infocure's
support was not too good for the price paid. I
finally just switched over to Data Base
Consultants a couple of months ago and am happy
with it so far. Not to mention it is less than
half the price of Wisdom.

Morgan Holmes, D.P.M.
North East, PA.
MHolmes939@aol.com

---------------------

I have been a DR- Wisdom user since 1991,
when it was run by Don and Debbie Rogers the
owners, and have done the upgrades over the
years, including networking 2 large offices with
8 computer seats. My network computer
professional is Sal Power, who recently had a
booth at APMA Region III Conference this year.
He has been a tremendous help, and no-one knows
more about Wisdom and Networking and its plusses
and minuses (there are plenty of both) than Sal.
His e-mail is spower@power-networking.com. I
recommend his input highly. This is an expensive
transition in terms of money and practice
management, and you should not do it without
professional help. I didn't and I am glad I had
his help.

Pat Caputo, DPM
Holmdel and Red Bank, NJ
CAPStops@aol.com

---------------------

Regarding DR software, our office had used
DR for over 10 years and did attempt conversion
to their wisdom product. The process of
conversion was confusing and labor intensive that
we then opted to continue with the DOS-based
program until we converted to Medrium earlier
this year. I found the support for both DR and
WISDOM to be both expensive and very unhelpful
and their billing department a joke. Converting
over past demographic and billing data was far
more difficult than we were told before purchase.
Presently we are billing using Medrium. It is
an Internet-based service which can handle all
billing and scheduling. There is no software to
purchase, it is HIPAA-compliant and Medrium does
constant upgrades. You have several levels of
service from you imputing your own charges on
their system to just sending your super bill to
them and having them do everything. Our office
has opted to submit our own charges and we are
charged a per claim fee( no charge for
resubmits). Simple answer to your question, hated
DR and WISDOM, not worth the money. I recommend
Medrium (www.Medrium.com).

Patrick Dwyer, DPM
Bedford, NH
pdwyer@pol.net

------------------

I was a longtime user of DR Software (>13
years) who also had to make a decision. My
decision was to ditch DR entirely and to use a
billing company. As a long time user of DR and
one who paid their exorbitant annual maintenance
fees, I was extremely upset that updated software
was not included as part of the annual
maintenance package. My concern is that if I paid
to upgrade now to Wisdom (continue to pay $2,000
to $3,000 for annual 'support') and when Bill
Gates introduces another operating system: am I
willing to fork over another ten to $20,000 for
new software, again?
Mine is a small practice. As we all know,
billing is not so much the issue as billing
correctly and receiving payment. Typically in a
small practice it is up to the doctor to know all
the nuances about billing and to train the office
staff in the new ways that all the insurance
companies have devised to trick us. My own
observation has shown that in-office personnel
are more likely to write off unpaid charges
rather than investigate the need for proper
coding modifiers.
Most billing companies charge less than 10%
(5-7%) of accounts receivable COLLECTED.
Depending on the size of your practice can
determine whether or not this is feasible. For a
million dollar practice it probably makes more
sense to have your own billing department in
house; however, for a $100-$300,000 practice, it
may make more sense to have your bills handled by
an agency.
Truth be known, medical billing has become a
unique sub-specialty made necessary by the
unnecessary complexity of this very simple
process.
Lastly, as one who feels he was wronged by DR,
etc., I would not give them my business...,
ever.

Richard A. Simmons, DPM
Orlando, FL
rasdpm@aol.com

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11/02/2002    Aimee Cathleen Judy, PMAC, PRT

HIPAA Compliant Software

Query: HIPAA Compliant Software
From: Aimee Cathleen Judy, PMAC, PRT

We currently use DR software. It is our
understanding that to become HIPAA compliant we
will either have to upgrade to Wisdom or change
to another system. We have secured a quote for
the upgrade to Wisdom of approximately $13, 000.
This price seems a bit steep to us, however it is
hard to tell because we have had the DR software
for seven years and we are not directly familiar
with what the current industry standard pricing
should be for this type of program. We have been
mostly happy with the DR software, although it
has been a bit unstable lately. If it were not
for the fact that we need to be HIPAA compliant
and the periodic instability we would probably
stay with DR rather than make any changes. Also,
they have told us that they will (in the near
future) no longer be supporting the DR program.
What I need to know is this:

1. Is the Wisdom software worth what we have
been quoted? Does anyone have experience with
the program that could give me an opinion?
2. Does anyone have any suggestions for other
programs that could be used in place of DR and/
or Wisdom? The program would need to support
electronic claims.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions and/
or input.

Aimee Cathleen Judy, PMAC, PRT
Practice Manager/ Dr. Brian Shwer
Bartlett, TN
footdoc@bellsouth.net