Glossary term
EOB vs ERA
Short answer
An EOB and an ERA carry much of the same payment information in different formats. An EOB is a document written for people to read, often on paper or as a PDF. An ERA is the X12 835 electronic file written for software, which lets billing systems post payments automatically without manual data entry.
When will you get an EOB instead of an ERA?
You typically receive ERAs from payers you have enrolled with for electronic remittance. Payers you are not enrolled with, smaller plans, and some secondary or specialty payers may still send paper or PDF EOBs.
Can EOBs be posted automatically?
Yes, if the EOB is first converted into structured data. That means reading the document, extracting claim and line details, and mapping adjustments to standard codes before posting to the practice management system.
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Claimhound, a Veriflow Health company, checks claim status with each payer and posts EOB and 835 payment details into your billing system.