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US5915241A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and system encoding and processing alternative healthcare provider billing

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-09-12
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Granted: 1999-06-22
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Expires: 2017-09-12
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Abstract

Abstract A system for encoding and encompassing healthcare provider billing, more particularly, a computer assisted network for encoding, documenting and processing claims for payment of specific procedures by alternative therapy providers, grouped geographically and by specialty. The system employs a computer accessing three main databases for identifying, encoding and calculation of average costs of provider services. A resulting Alternative Billing Code (ABC) is produced which can be compared and correlated with insurance industry standard codes. The ABC has the attribute of conveying multiple levels of information through alphanumeric characters. The ABC is an assembly of a series of terms and sub-terms from databases, namely Alternative Practice Type (APT), Standard Alternative Procedure Descriptions (SAPDs), Provider Data (PD) and RVU (Relative Value Unit) databases. Each provider specialty includes its own listing of treatments which are turned into RVUs, thus establishing a sequence of treatment fees and charges. The APT code and SAPD code are stored in a PD file including average claims costs of all providers as categorized by a predetermined grouping, which with the PD create the ABC as a comprehensive, single code representing all elements of treatment incident to a patient visit. Claims for payment are submitted and translated into an appropriate code for determination of payment under the present system.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jo Melinna Giannini

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 20:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/04; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/08; G06Q99/00; G16; G16H; G16H15/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 204 words
A method of encoding, documenting and processing the procedures and billing of alternative healthcare provider treatment, using a computer system having a programmable memory and central processing unit, comprising the steps of: inputting and encoding a database of a plurality of alternative healthcare providers each categorized with an alphanumeric indicia to yield an alternative practice type (APT) code; inputting and encoding a database of alternative procedures for each of the plurality of alternative healthcare provider categories by an alphanumeric indicia to yield a standard alternative procedure descriptions SAPD code; stringing the SAPD and alternative practice type APT codes together to yield a string; inputting and encoding a relative value units RVU database including a conversion factor and RVU for each string; inputting and encoding claims information from alternative healthcare providers and patients including specialty, regional location, each procedure and prescription item prescribed and grouping each provider by region and by specialty; calculating a provider charge for each procedure and prescription item prescribed by multiplying the RVU by the conversion factor; encoding the provider charge in an RVU code and stringing it to the string to yield a PD code; and stringing the PD code and a RVU code to yield an alternative billing code.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method according to claim 1, further including the step of providing insurance carriers and third-party payers with a standardized alternative procedure description.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 1, further including the step of equating the SAPD with CPT used in the insurance industry and preparing a conversion table.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of inputting the regional location of a specialty and provider includes determining the zip code and state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of grouping includes grouping by zip code and state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining patient records and translating raw patient information into input data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of supplementing the alternative billing codes and alternative procedural terminology with additional codes and terminology.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 220 words
A programmed computer assembly for encoding, documenting and processing the procedures and billing of alternative healthcare provider treatment, comprising a computer having programmable memory and central processing unit, a program installed on the computer having means for inputting and encoding a database of a plurality of alternative healthcare providers each categorized by an alphanumeric indicia to yield an alternative practice type (APT) code; means for inputting and encoding a database of alternative procedures for each of the plurality of alternative healthcare provider categories with an alphanumeric indicia to yield an SAPD code; means for stringing the standard alternative procedure descriptions SAPD and APT codes together to yield a string; means for inputting and encoding a RVU database including a conversion factor and relative value units RVU for each string; means for inputting and encoding claims information from alternative healthcare providers and patients including specialty, regional location, each procedure and prescription item prescribed and grouping each provider by region and by specialty; means for calculating a provider charge for each procedure and prescription item prescribed by multiplying the RVU by the conversion factor; means for encoding the provider charge in an RVU code and stringing it to the string to yield a PD code; and means for stringing the PD code and a RVU code to yield an alternative billing code.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
The programmed computer assembly according to claim 8, wherein the program further has a means of comparing the alternative terminology code with accepted CPT codes used in the insurance industry and preparing a conversion table.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 37 words
The programmed computer assembly according to claim 8, wherein the program further has means for determining a state code from input information and grouping associated information by state to identify licensing and scope of practice of providers.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-06-21 2002-12-21 2003-06-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-06-21 2006-12-21 2007-06-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-06-21 2010-12-21 2011-06-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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