Automated system for medical item dispensing, billing, and inventory management

Abstract

An inventory management system manages information regarding medical items dispensed to a patient in a medical facility. Inventory sensors sense removal of medical items from an inventory space to be dispensed to the patient. Software instructions associate item information with patient information that identifies the patient, determine billing codes associated with the dispensed items, generate billing information including the patient information and the billing codes, and generate an invoice directed to the patient's medical insurance provider. The instructions also verify that the billing codes are associated with medical items appropriate for treatment of the patient's condition indicated by diagnostic codes included in the billing information, and generate an alert message if the billing codes are associated with medical items that are not reimbursable or are inappropriate for treatment of the diagnosed condition. The alert message is sent to the physician who diagnosed the patient and provided the diagnostic code.