Imagine a clinic where patient care isn’t delayed because of insurance paperwork.
Cash-based practices allow medical professionals to focus on quality care by streamlining the entire billing procedures and overcoming insurance process challenges.
Selecting the right EMR/EHR software further strengthens this model by minimizing administrative operations, facilitating smooth patient collaboration, and expediting documentation, making it a crucial tool for cash-based practices.
This blog will explore the five leading EMR/EHR platforms for cash-based clinics that simplify operations. This blog will compare their features, pricing, and benefits to help you select the best healthcare software for your practice.
Our Top Picks:
SmartClinix – Known for its ease of use
Kareo EMR – Appreciated for its integrated EHR and RCM solutions
athenahealth – Prominent for improving clinical and operational performance
Criteria for Evaluating EMRs For Cash-Based Practices
When selecting an EMR/EHR for a cash-based practice, it is critical to consider features that improve clinical operations, billing, and patient relations rather than just relying on basic functionalities.
Here are a few essential requirements you should consider when evaluating an EMR/EHR system:
Simplified Billing And Payment Processing: Integrated payment systems provide direct payment collection, assuring a seamless financial process
Transparent Pricing: Look for clear pricing plans with no hidden charges to manage finances efficiently
Customizable Documentation Features: Personalization of templates in an EMR/EHR system can help medical professionals tailor notes according to their specific services, saving time and improving workflows
Patient Management Tools: Scheduling and automated reminders option that supports easy booking, rescheduling, and cancellations can enhance patient satisfaction and reduce no-shows, ensuring better clinical efficiency
Reporting And Analytics: Data on financial performance, patient demographics, and service utilization helps cash-based practices track growth and productivity. Additionally, performance metrics enable medical professionals to make informed decisions and adapt services as required
Best EMR For Cash-Based Practice - Quick Comparison
Software Name
Free Trial
Monthly Cost
Billing Automation
Claim Management
EHR Integration
Customizable Templates
Patient Portal
Telemedicine Options
Training
SmartClinix
❌
Starting at $50/month
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
Kareo
✅
Custom
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
NextGen
❌
Custom
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
DrChrono
✅
Custom
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
athenahealth
❌
Custom
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
SmartClinix
SmartClinix is a cloud-based EMR and practice management software that can be tailored to meet the preferences and unique needs of cash-based practices. Accessible via mobile devices and desktops, the platform offers several features, including billing to automate payment processing, a patient portal to improve patient collaboration with healthcare providers, and telehealth solutions to enable virtual care.
The following are some of its noteworthy features:
Remote Patient Monitoring: Tracks patient health to provide quality care via integrated Bluetooth and LTE devices, artificial intelligence, automated alerts, and data analytics
Referral Management System: Enables practitioners to share patient information and reports to enhance collaboration and provide optimum patient care
Online Payment: Integrates with Stripe to accept online payments, reducing the need for paper money and minimizing manual errors
Event-Based Notifications: Reduces patient no-shows by sending appointment booking and reminder notifications via SMS and email
Pros
Cons
Automated alerts reduce no-shows
Seamless integration with several apps
Mobile app offers access anywhere
Online payments to replace paper money
Customer response time may slow down during peak hours
Customization options can be improved
How Much Does SmartClinix Cost?
The vendor offers the following two SmartClinix pricing plans:
Entry-level Plan: $50/month
Advanced Plan: $299/month
Additionally, the software also has service-based packages with custom pricing options, depending on your medical specialty and size.
Which Specialty Does SmartClinix Suit The Most?
The following medical specialties use it:
Cardiovascular
Primary care
Urgent Care
Online labs
Dermatologists
Oncologist
Kareo
Kareo, now known as Tebra after its merger with PatientPop, is another top EHR system for cash-based practices that offers cloud-based practice management solutions. The software is known for its simplified billing system that optimizes the payment management processes. It offers several functionalities to streamline workflows, including e-prescriptions, scheduling, and charting capabilities. Kareo features include:
Documentation And Faxing: Users can store all the documents online, scan files, receive and send faxes, and organize and manage document batches to minimize manual input and enhance efficiency
Charting: Practitioners can create patient encounter notes, search and review specific patient records quickly, and add comments for future references
Patient Engagement: Improves patient satisfaction by offering several features, including appointment reminders, scheduling, online patient intake forms, and more
Robotic Process Automation: Automates the entire revenue cycle management process via ‘Unapplied Payment’ solution to keep track of insurance payments and deposits
Pros
Cons
Clinical notes are displayed on one page
Mobile app provides on-to-go access
Easy claims identification process
Templates reduce charting time
Not suited for mental health clinics
Support ticket response time can be improved
How Much Does Kareo Cost?
Kareo offers custom pricing which can be tailored to suit your practice’s needs.
Which Specialty Does Kareo Suit The Most?
Kareo is used by the following:
Hematology
General surgery
Infectious disease
Nephrology
Internal medicine
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
NextGen
NextGen is a practice management and EHR system that caters to the needs of various medical specialties, including ophthalmology, dermatology, and family practice. This cloud-based platform is particularly beneficial for cash-based practices due to its extensive documentation and reporting abilities. It enables practitioners to manage detailed patient records and track practice performance efficiently.
Here's a list of some of the top NextGen features:
Telehealth:Offers HIPAA-compliant HD videos for optimum and secure integrated virtual consultations
Billing: Automates the entire billing process to collect patient payments easily without any errors, supporting clean claims via claims scrubbing technology
Regulatory Reporting: Integrates several types of reports, including CCM, CMS, UDS, HQM, MIPS/MACRA, and more, to track financial and clinical requirements
Scheduling: Provides fully integrated tools to automate routine tasks, including scheduling, appointment reminders, color-coded scheduling templates, wait-list management, and more
Pros
Cons
Hassle-free alert system
Interactive training videos
Easy to send charges from docs to billing
View exact patient statements for quality care
Customization options can be improved
Inaccurate error messages for missing data
Several steps required for payment processing
How Much Does NextGen Cost?
The cost of NextGen is based on the number of transactions processed. It offers a subscription-based pricing model with custom pricing based on the needs and size of clinics.
Which Specialty Does NextGen Suit The Most?
The software is used by:
Pain management
Urology
Rheumatology
Osteopathic medicine
Behavioral health
Ambulatory care
Dental health
DrChrono
DrChrono is another EMR healthcare solution favorable for cash-based practices. The software streamlines various operations by offering several solutions, including e-prescriptions, patient charting, medical billing, and appointment scheduling. Its ability to provide ease of use, versatile features, and custom pricing options makes it one of the best EMRs for cash-only medical clinics.
DrChrono functionalities include:
Document Management: Supports multiple file formats and allows healthcare practitioners to upload any file to patient charts with a maximum upload limit of 100MB per document
Lab Integration: Connects with more than 40,000 labs, enabling medical professionals to submit lab orders directly from the web or thier phone
Patient Portal: Patients can manage their health using the secure OnPatient Portal to communicate effectively with clinicians
Patient Kiosk: Provides patient check-in and digital intake forms in multiple languages, including English and Spanish
Pros
Cons
Quick search for ICD10 codes
Mobile app for remote access
Clear video tutorials for support
Extensive customization options
Sending prescriptions might be challenging
Deleting appointments erases notes too
How Much Does DrChrono Cost?
DrChrono has the following four pricing plans:
Prometheus (EHR and Practice Management) – Custom Pricing
Hippocrates (Advanced EHR and Practice Management) – Custom Pricing
Apollo (EHR, Practice Management, and Medical Billing) – Custom Pricing
Apollo Plus (EHR, Practice Management, and Revenue Management Cycle Services) – Custom Pricing
Additionally, the software has a starting price of $30/month for the first provider, followed by $10/month/provider for each additional user.
Which Specialty Does DrChrono Suit The Most?
The following healthcare practices use it:
Endocrinology
Dermatology
Cardiology
Pain management
Internal medicine
Chiropractic
Podiatry
Physical therapy
athenahealth
athenahealth is a cloud-based EHR system that enhances productivity and simplifies operations for cash-based practices. The platform offers various features, such as revenue cycle management, telehealth, appointment scheduling, and patient portal, to improve workflows and patient satisfaction.
The following are some of the noteworthy features:
Integration:Seamless integration options 800+ API endpoints to connect to various third-party applications along with HL7 and C-CDA interfaces to exchange data across systems
Documentation:Customizable templates that can be tailored according to the unique preferences of medical specialties, enabling practitioners to focus on patient care
Claims Management:Medical providers can submit cleaner claims that are in compliance with the regulatory requirements
Communication:Improves collaboration between patients and healthcare professionals via patient portal, enabling quality care
Pros
Cons
Safe transactions with no billing issues
Text shortcuts and templates enhance operations
Analytics tools enable informed decisions
Self-scheduling options to book appointments
Reimbursements are sent via separate bank
Challenging to navigate between sections
Excessive patient notifications
How Much Does athenahealth Cost?
The vendor offers custom pricing options, depending on the total collections of healthcare practices, with no hidden costs or annual subscription commitments.
Which Specialty Does athenahealth Suit The Most?
The software serves the following specialties:
Pediatrics
Urgent care
Orthopedics
Primary care
Behavioral health
Women’s health
Emergency medicine
Choosing The Right Fit For Your Cash-Based Practice
Selecting the right EMR/EHR can have significant benefits for cash-based practices, such as boosting revenues, improving patient care, and reducing administrative burdens. The above-mentioned top picks offer diverse strengths tailored to varying healthcare needs. Whether you opt for SmartClinix’s patient-oriented approach, athenahealth for its customizable documentation templates, or any other software from the list, each EMR/EHR system comes with its own perks and benefits.
Ultimately, the choice of finalizing the healthcare software depends on the preferences and requirements of your medical clinic.
