System and software for capturing and encoding healthcare servives and processing healthcare claims

• US 20020123907A1
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scott M. Strayer
• Original Assignee: Scott M. Strayer
• Inventors: Strayer, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US10/011,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123907A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method and software system, for capturing and encoding healthcare services and processing healthcare claims, preferably through capturing information at the point of service through a Hand Held Computer 1 relevant to the medical treatment furnished by the healthcare provider, encoding the health care services, and submitting the healthcare claims to a Centralized Coding Facility 4, either directly to the Centralized Coding Facility 4, or from the Hand Held Computer 1 to a Desk Top Computer System 3 and then to the Centralized Coding Facility 4, by means of a hard-wired connection transmission, wireless transmission, or infra-red beam transmission, or combination of those three means, for the purpose of submission of the healthcare claims to the proper insurance company or other paying entity, and for a more expedient, efficient and cost effective payment and reimbursement to the healthcare provider for healthcare services rendered.

Claims

1. A method for capturing and encoding healthcare services and processing healthcare claims, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) Capturing Healthcare Services;

(b) Encoding Healthcare Services; and

(b) Processing Healthcare Claims;

wherein the step of Processing Healthcare claims includes submitting the Healthcare Claims to a Centralized Coding Facility.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of Capturing Healthcare Services includes capturing Relevant Information at the point of service utilizing a Hand Held Computer.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the step of Capturing Healthcare Services includes capturing one or more of the following items of Relevant Information;

Patient Information, Patient History, Hospital Information, and Specific Instances of Services, and storing said Relevant Information in the Hand Held Computer 1 system; and

the step of Encoding Healthcare Services includes generating one or more of the following Charge Codes;

an Initial Charges Code, a Subsequent Charges Code, a Procedures Charges Code, an Emergency Room Services Charges Code, and a Nursing Home Visits Charges Code; and

the Specific Instances of Services will include one or more of the following services;

Service Location, Patient Allergies, Patient Diagnosis, Patient Medications, Patient Past Surgical History, Patient Past Social History, Patient Family History and Notes.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the Charge Codes are automatically generated by software in the Hand Held Computer 1 and/or in a Desk Top Computer System to which the Hand Held Computer System transmits the Relevant Information and/or Specific Instances of Services.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the user of the Hand Held Computer 1 may either accept the automatically generated Charge Codes, or manually select the Charge Codes, or define and select a Customized Charge Code.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the submission of Healthcare Claims to a Centralized Coding Facility is accomplished by sending an electronic transmission from the Hand Held Computer to the Centralized Coding Facility, where said electronic transmission may be comprised of a transmission by e-mail, over a local area network, over the internet, by means of a modem connection, or by means of another hardwired connection between the Hand Held Computer and the Centralized Coding Facility.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the submission of Healthcare claims to a Centralized Coding Facility is accomplished by sending a wireless transmission from the Hand Held Computer to the Centralized Coding Facility.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the submission of Healthcare Claims to a Centralized Coding Facility is accomplished by sending an infra-red beam from the Hand Held Computer to the Centralized Coding Facility.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the submission of Healthcare Claims to a Centralized Coding Facility is accomplished by sending a First Transmission from the Hand Held Computer to a Desktop Computer System, and then by sending a Second Transmission from the Desktop Computer System to the Centralized Coding Facility.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the First Transmission is an electronic transmission by one of the following means;

by e-mail, over a local area network, over the internet, by means of a modem connection, or by means of another hardwired connection between the Hand Held Computer and the Desktop Computer System.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the First Transmission is a wireless transmission.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the First Transmission is an infra-red beam transmission.