By Sid Mehta, Chief Growth Officer, Access Healthcare
In Part 1 of this series, we debunked five of 10 common myths that continue to shape outdated thinking about the revenue cycle. From assumptions about billing to misplaced fears about offshore performance, these myths distort decision-making and delay innovation. Here’s a quick recap of the first five:
RCM is only about billing and collections
Artificial intelligence will replace RCM staffing teams
RCM outsourcing means losing control over financial performance
Offshore teams are challenged by language, culture, and time zone differences
All offshore vendors are the same
You can read Part I here for full context.
In this second installment, we will look at how the myths surrounding coding accuracy, automation, and offshore execution can generate unnecessary fear and create new opportunities for revenue capture. Let’s clear the air and separate fact from fiction.
Myth #6: You cannot outsource coding without risk
The Reality: Outsourced coding can be accurate, compliant, and risk managed
Concerns often linger that outsourcing coding leads to elevated errors, compliance issues, and lost revenue. However, reputable coding partners routinely deliver highly accurate, fully compliant services often exceeding internal performance.
A recent Transcend Health report shows some outsourced coding teams maintain accuracy rates above 95 percent, use trained coders specialized by clinical area, and offer transparent reporting and auditing framework.
In this same Transcend Health article, Black Book Research found that 78 percent of hospital CFOs are planning to outsource at least some coding functions to combat workforce shortages and rising operational
A TruBridge resource highlights how outsourced coding ensures accuracy and compliance through certified professionals and regular audits. These teams maintain tight controls on coding-to-billing workflows, minimizing denials and operational risks.
Done right, outsourced coding reduces turnaround time, scales with demand, and boosts accuracy, especially when in-house teams are stretched thin. The critical factor is to choose a partner who prioritizes quality, transparency, and continuous improvement, not just lower costs.
Myth #7: Automation only benefits large health systems
The Reality: Mid-sized and smaller providers also see measurable gains
It is easy to assume that automation is only for large health systems with big budgets and extensive IT infrastructure. However, RCM workflow automation that uses tools like robotic process automation (RPA), predictive analytics, and intelligent claim scrubbing is delivering clear benefits across provider sizes:
A recent article from ENTER.health explains that automating rule-based tasks like patient registration, claim edits, and denial flagging reduces administrative burdens, minimizes errors, accelerates reimbursements, and improves collections for smaller and mid-sized practices too.
The 2024 CAQH Index identifies a $20 billion annual opportunity from automating administrative healthcare tasks including eligibility, claims status checks, and remittance advice with benefits realized across providers of every size
Automation makes these organizations more efficient and eases staff workload without requiring a large-scale system overhaul. Even modest automation investments can shrink claim cycle times, lower operational costs, and enhance patient billing experiences making it a practical choice for providers of all sizes.
Myth #8: Offshore vendors lack education and expertise
The Reality: Many offshore teams are highly trained and credentialed in national healthcare services
Despite persistent myths, offshore RCM teams are no longer just a budget-friendly alternative. They’re setting new standards for education, accuracy, and compliance that often rival, and even surpass, their US-based counterparts.
Highly Skilled, Exceptionally Trained
Today’s offshore workforce features certified professionals who receive rigorous, specialized training in US healthcare systems, coding standards, and compliance protocols. Many team members hold respected credentials from organizations like AAPC and AHIMA, and they regularly update their expertise on ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS standards. This isn’t just about cost savings. It’s about clinical excellence and ongoing education.
Outstanding Accuracy and Speed
Recent studies reveal that offshore coding teams can achieve first-pass accuracy rates of up to 95 percent, while delivering coding turnaround times nearly 40 percent faster than traditional in-house teams. This impressive performance is driven by structured, on-going training programs and scalable, efficient workflows.
Quality at Scale
Offshore teams leverage economies of scale, enabling robust quality monitoring and peer review processes that smaller in-house teams often can’t match. The result? Consistent, reliable outcomes and continuous process improvement.
The next time you hear doubts about offshore RCM, remember: the data tells a different story—one of expertise, efficiency, and exceptional results.
Myth #9: Offshore is too risky for protected health information (PHI)
The Reality: Offshore PHI handling is permissible under HIPAA and can be secured By National standards
“It’s not about location, it’s about accountability,” Becker’s Hospital Review
There’s a common fear that sending protected health information (PHI) offshore automatically violates HIPAA; or worse, that data becomes unsafe due to lax overseas regulations. In reality, HIPAA permits offshore handling of health information as long as proper safeguards are in place including extra reporting. A comprehensive legal review confirms that offshore processing of PHI is allowed when:
A valid Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is in place
Administrative, technical, and physical safeguards meet HIPAA standards
Regular risk assessments and audits are performed
But, here’s why offshore can be extremely safe for healthcare data:
US-grade certifications and safeguards: Offshore partners often hold HITRUST or SOC 2 certifications, employ two-factor authentication, industry-standard encryption at rest and in transit, and perform routine third-party audits, matching or exceeding US onshore security practices.
Oversight and accountability remain with the covered entity: US covered entities are responsible for any breach, even if it occurs offshore. That incentivizes rigorous oversight, audit rights, and contractual accountability. According to Healthcare Compliance Pros, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) does not have jurisdiction over offshore firms, placing accountability squarely on the US partner to enforce protections.
A balanced analysis in Becker’s Hospital Review confirms that blended domestic-offshore coding models can improve accuracy, speed, security, and cost without sacrificing compliance.
Therefore, offshore handling of PHI can be as secure and compliant as any domestic model, so long as you choose a partner with validated certifications, strong contractual obligations, and proactive oversight. An offshore partner, like Access Healthcare.
Myth #10: Offshore support means losing your staff
The Reality: Strategic outsourcing can stabilize internal teams and reduce burnout
It’s a common concern: “If we bring in offshore support, will our people lose their jobs?” But that assumption overlooks how offshore partnerships are used today. In most healthcare organizations, outsourcing is not about replacement, but about reinforcement.
Alleviating staff shortages: Many practices are grappling with recruitment challenges and high turnover. According to ReveleMD, RCM outsourcing helps mitigate staffing shortages, reduce training burdens, and maintain consistent operations without exacerbating burnout
Enhancing efficiency and morale: Outsourcing administrative tasks like coding, billing, and claims processing frees US-based staff to focus on patient care, quality control, and strategic initiatives; areas that drive job satisfaction and retention.
Enabling scalability: Offshore models allow organizations to quickly scale support during volume spikes, new service launches, or seasonal demands without added hiring or layoffs. This flexible capacity helps maintain stability amid growth and keeps internal staff from being stretched thin.
By offloading routine work, providers can stabilize daily operations, help prevent staff burnout and provide scalable resource pools. The impact? A more resilient, focused, and empowered US-based workforce.
Conclusion: Moving Beyond Myths into Today’s RCM Reality
The 10 myths we’ve covered surrounding billing, coding, automation, offshore staffing, AI, and data security are persistent, but they are not accurate. Not even close. Strategic outsourcing is not about cutting corners. It is about finding the right partners, building scalable and secure workflows, and freeing your internal teams to focus where they add the most value. When done with a strong RCM partner, outsourcing is not a risk—it is a path to resilience.
Access Healthcare stands ready to help healthcare organizations rethink what’s possible in the revenue cycle. When myths are replaced with facts, and fear with strategy, transformation becomes achievable. If you’re ready to replace uncertainty with clarity and myths with measurable improvement, Access Healthcare can help.
About the Author
Sid Mehta is Chief Growth Officer at Access Healthcare, where he leads the company’s new business initiatives, drives market expansion, and oversees client onboarding and long-term engagement success. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle and business process outsourcing, Sid is known for translating complex challenges into actionable strategies.
A trusted advisor to both clients and colleagues, Sid is valued for his clarity, candor, and deep understanding of the revenue cycle landscape, qualities that continue to shape Access Healthcare’s role as a trusted partner in smarter RCM.
He holds an MBA from Bentley College and an undergraduate degree from Sydenham College. Sid is certified in Stagen Integrated Leadership, Miller Heiman Strategic Selling, Large Account Management, and Negotiation. He is actively involved in industry thought leadership as a member of HFMA, AHIMA, the Health Management Academy, and Health Evolution.
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