Introduction to my article entitled "The Super Bill" that appeared in the November/December 1972 issue of Medal Group Management, Journal of the MGMA (Vol 20, #1, pp 21-26). While a Medical practice Administrator in Minnesota, member of Medical Group Management Association and as Chairman of Minnesota Medical Group Management Association's "Clinic-Third Party Billing Procedures Committee", I had become frustrated with a growing proliferation of insurance company forms and promoted the idea of a physician generated standardized billing system for physician services that, as a by-product, would also serve the needs of the Insurance industry including Medicare and Medicaid. With the help of another medical practice administrator and Committee member, John Stehlow, we envisioned and portrayed system that would implement a nationwide coding system for medical, surgical & ancillary services and diagnosis. The concept was revolutionary at the time because it would be developed and implemented by the physician side of the health care industry rather than by the insurance industry which had become bogged down in their attempts to develop a standardized insurance claim form that would satisfy that industry. Given my background as a Medicare Part B Unit Supervisor (Travelers), it was apparent that this new concept address both out-patient services (not then covered by private insurance company contracts) and in-patient services. Following a two year (1970-1971) effort to promote this concept in Minnesota (which John and I labeled as the Superbill, a name conceived prior to a Super Bowl game), it was apparent that it would have to cross state lines to be successful. John and I were appointed to the MGMA Clinic Procedures Committee. This article provides a detailed description of the Superbill concept and the two year road that led to the publication. BWM
Original Title
8-5-09 the Superbill - November-December 1972 Issue of MGMA Journal
Introduction to my article entitled "The Super Bill" that appeared in the November/December 1972 issue of Medal Group Management, Journal of the MGMA (Vol 20, #1, pp 21-26). While a Medical practice Administrator in Minnesota, member of Medical Group Management Association and as Chairman of Minnesota Medical Group Management Association's "Clinic-Third Party Billing Procedures Committee", I had become frustrated with a growing proliferation of insurance company forms and promoted the idea of a physician generated standardized billing system for physician services that, as a by-product, would also serve the needs of the Insurance industry including Medicare and Medicaid. With the help of another medical practice administrator and Committee member, John Stehlow, we envisioned and portrayed system that would implement a nationwide coding system for medical, surgical & ancillary services and diagnosis. The concept was revolutionary at the time because it would be developed and implemented by the physician side of the health care industry rather than by the insurance industry which had become bogged down in their attempts to develop a standardized insurance claim form that would satisfy that industry. Given my background as a Medicare Part B Unit Supervisor (Travelers), it was apparent that this new concept address both out-patient services (not then covered by private insurance company contracts) and in-patient services. Following a two year (1970-1971) effort to promote this concept in Minnesota (which John and I labeled as the Superbill, a name conceived prior to a Super Bowl game), it was apparent that it would have to cross state lines to be successful. John and I were appointed to the MGMA Clinic Procedures Committee. This article provides a detailed description of the Superbill concept and the two year road that led to the publication. BWM
Introduction to my article entitled "The Super Bill" that appeared in the November/December 1972 issue of Medal Group Management, Journal of the MGMA (Vol 20, #1, pp 21-26). While a Medical practice Administrator in Minnesota, member of Medical Group Management Association and as Chairman of Minnesota Medical Group Management Association's "Clinic-Third Party Billing Procedures Committee", I had become frustrated with a growing proliferation of insurance company forms and promoted the idea of a physician generated standardized billing system for physician services that, as a by-product, would also serve the needs of the Insurance industry including Medicare and Medicaid. With the help of another medical practice administrator and Committee member, John Stehlow, we envisioned and portrayed system that would implement a nationwide coding system for medical, surgical & ancillary services and diagnosis. The concept was revolutionary at the time because it would be developed and implemented by the physician side of the health care industry rather than by the insurance industry which had become bogged down in their attempts to develop a standardized insurance claim form that would satisfy that industry. Given my background as a Medicare Part B Unit Supervisor (Travelers), it was apparent that this new concept address both out-patient services (not then covered by private insurance company contracts) and in-patient services. Following a two year (1970-1971) effort to promote this concept in Minnesota (which John and I labeled as the Superbill, a name conceived prior to a Super Bowl game), it was apparent that it would have to cross state lines to be successful. John and I were appointed to the MGMA Clinic Procedures Committee. This article provides a detailed description of the Superbill concept and the two year road that led to the publication. BWM