Billing errors are expensive — in time, in reimbursement delays, and in staff frustration. For clinics with high-volume, predictable billing patterns (and most do), manually entering the same service codes, diagnostic codes, and modifiers repeatedly isn’t just tedious — it’s a source of unnecessary risk. Healthquest’s claim macro tools eliminate that repetition by letting you build short codes that expand into complete, accurate claim entries with a single keystroke.
There are three distinct macro systems in Healthquest: one for AHC claims, one for client and third-party billing, and one for WCB, each sitting in a different area of the system but all working on the same principle: type a short code, get a fully expanded claim entry.
AHC Claim Macros
If your clinic submits Alberta Health Care claims and you consistently pair the same service codes with the same diagnostic codes, AHC claim macros are a natural fit.
Setting it up:
- Go to Admin > AHC Claim Macros > New
- Assign a macro code — what you’ll type to trigger it
- Enter the service code and add any modifiers and diagnostic codes that apply
- Assign it to a specific practitioner, or leave it blank to make it available clinic-wide
Using it:
In the charting window, type your macro code into the fee code field and click Bill. The macro expands into the full claim entry in the claim window — ready to review and submit.
💡 Pro Tip: Your macro code doesn’t need to be intuitive to anyone else — just to the person using it. Short, consistent codes (like ‘diab93’ for a specific diabetes service code combination) are easier to remember and faster to type than navigating dropdown menus.
Client & Third-Party Billing Macros
For patient invoicing and third-party billing, Healthquest has a separate macro system that works the same way but lives in a different location.
Setting it up:
- Go to Admin > Client Billing Macros > New
- Assign your macro code
- Select the billing code and adjust the description as needed
- Enter the dollar amount for the service
Using it:
Open the invoice entry window, select the patient (and third party, if applicable), type your macro code into the code field, and press Enter. The full invoice entry populates automatically.
This is particularly useful for clinics offering services with consistent pricing — cosmetic procedures, forms and letters, missed appointment fees, or specialized assessments — where the same code and amount appear repeatedly.
💡 Pro Tip: Client billing macros are great for reducing entry errors on your most common fee-for-service items. Set up your top 5–10 billed items as macros and see how quickly they become second nature.
WCB Claim Macros
Workers’ Compensation billing through Healthquest has its own macro setup, designed to work with the WCB Rapid Report workflow.
Setting it up:
- Go to Client > WCB Rapid Report > WCB Billing Macros
- Assign your macro code
- Enter the service code with any modifiers and relevant diagnostic codes
- Assign to a specific practitioner or leave blank for clinic-wide use
Using it:
In the WCB Rapid Report, navigate to the invoice tab and type the macro code into the service code field. The full expanded billing entry appears in the claim window — same logic, same time savings, different billing pathway.
One System, Three Entry Points
It’s worth noting that these three macro systems, while they live in different parts of Healthquest, follow identical logic. Once you’ve set up one type, the others will feel immediately familiar. The investment is mostly upfront: identifying which code combinations you use most often, creating the macros, and training staff on the codes.
After that, the efficiency gains are ongoing. Fewer keystrokes per claim. Fewer entry errors. Faster throughput at the billing stage, which means faster reimbursement.
Where to Start
If you’re not sure which macros to build first, start by looking at your most frequent claim types over the last 90 days. Whatever code combinations appear most often are your best candidates for macros. Even converting your top 10 to macros will make a noticeable difference for your billing team.
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