Short answer: Before we list a vendor, it has to sign a business associate agreement (BAA) with each client before any PHI access, give staff the minimum access they need, work in the client's systems under the client's workflows, show experience with US payers and billing tasks, provide references on request, and never claim to be "HIPAA certified." We also tell you plainly that this site is operated by Alliance Global Solutions, currently the only vendor on our list.
Most medical billing buyers' guides rank vendors without saying who pays for them. We'd rather show our criteria, apply them in public and be upfront about our interest. You can use the same list to evaluate any vendor, including ones we've never heard of.
The criteria
A vendor must meet every one of these before we list it as an approved vendor.
1. Signs a BAA before any PHI access
A company that performs billing or other functions involving protected health information on a practice's behalf is a business associate under HIPAA and needs a written business associate agreement (HHS). We require that the BAA is signed before anyone logs in. See business associate agreements and HIPAA.
2. No "HIPAA certified" claims
HHS's Office for Civil Rights does not endorse, certify or recommend specific technology or products (HHS). A vendor that markets itself as "HIPAA certified" is overstating something, so we won't list it.
3. Dedicated people, working in your systems
We list staffing vendors whose people work your queues, in your practice management system, clearinghouse and payer portals, with access you grant and can revoke. You keep control of the process and your payer relationships. See medical billing outsourcing: three models.
4. Experience with US billing work
The vendor should be able to explain how its staff handle the work you need, such as insurance verification, prior authorization, claim follow-up, denial management, payment posting or credentialing, and how new staff are trained on your payers.
5. Hiring, supervision and continuity
Who recruits, screens and supervises the staff? What happens if someone is out or leaves? We ask vendors to explain their process in writing.
6. Minimum necessary access and secure remote work
HIPAA's minimum necessary standard means staff should see only what their role requires (HHS). We ask how access is granted, logged and removed. These controls depend partly on your systems, so you should verify them during setup.
7. References on request
A vendor should be willing to connect you with references after an initial conversation. We don't publish client names or testimonials on this site.
8. Clear, honest pricing conversations
Pricing should be explained in writing before you sign, with no percentage-of-collections surprises if you're buying a staffing model. We don't publish vendor prices because they depend on roles and volume. See medical billing staffing costs.
What we don't do
- We don't sell placements or rankings, and there is no paid tier.
- We don't publish star ratings, reviews or testimonials.
- We don't list vendors to make the page look bigger. Today the list has one vendor, Alliance Global Solutions, and it's the company that operates this site. You can read the company's own about page to compare it with our criteria.
- We don't verify every safeguard on your behalf. Do your own due diligence and get your own legal and compliance advice.
How listing works
A vendor that wants to be considered can contact us. We'd review it against the criteria above, ask for documentation and references, and disclose any financial relationship on its listing. We'll re-check listed vendors at least once a year and when we learn of a material change.
Technology
Vendors increasingly pair staff with automation, from eligibility bots to AI assistants that draft appeals. Ask any vendor which tools touch PHI and whether each tool vendor signs a BAA, because a tool vendor handling PHI on your behalf is generally a business associate too (HHS). Alliance Global Solutions helps clients set up AI assistant workflows alongside their dedicated staff. See technology in medical billing for the latest updates.
Disclosure
Affiliation disclosure: Medical Billing Team is operated by Alliance Global Solutions. That means we have a financial interest in Alliance Global Solutions, currently the only vendor on our approved vendor list. Requests you submit through this site may be referred to Alliance Global Solutions, and we benefit if you hire it. We hold Alliance Global Solutions to the same published criteria we'd apply to any vendor, and we don't publish ratings, reviews or testimonials.
FAQ
Do vendors pay to be listed?
No. There's no paid listing or ranking. This site is operated by Alliance Global Solutions, currently the only listed vendor, and we disclose that on every vendor page.
Why is there only one approved vendor?
We'd rather list one vendor honestly than pad the page. Alliance Global Solutions operates this site and meets our criteria. Other vendors can ask to be reviewed.
Can I use these criteria for vendors you don't list?
Yes. The criteria work for evaluating any remote billing, coding or RCM staffing vendor.
Do you verify a vendor's HIPAA compliance?
No. We check that a vendor signs BAAs and doesn't claim to be HIPAA certified, but your practice is responsible for its own due diligence and should get its own compliance advice.
How often do you re-check listed vendors?
At least once a year, and sooner if we learn of a material change.