Handling insurance billing and keeping a healthy revenue cycle can be a real headache for dental practices. From missed billing items and claim denials to inaccurate scheduling, these issues can mess with your financial stability and efficiency. We recently had a webinar with FOA Coaches Sydney Robinson, Brittany Rogar, Catilin Mendaz, and Rebecca Herring, where they tackled these problems head-on. Here’s a quick summary of the practical tips and solutions they shared to help streamline your processes and boost billing accuracy.
Key Takeaways
1. Get Your Insurance Setup Right:
- Make sure insurance plan types are correctly set as PPO with the right fee schedules. This ensures precise billing and reporting.
- Set specific notes and times for each provider to accommodate different treatment protocols or timings, which boosts overall efficiency.
2. Daily Reporting is a Must:
- Run the “Procedures Not Billed” report daily to catch any missed billing items, ensuring all procedures are billed correctly.
- Use the batch insurance processing feature in Open Dental to streamline claim submissions and cut down on manual errors.
3. Tackle Claim Denials:
- Get your state insurance commissioner involved to add pressure on insurers for fair and prompt claim processing.
- Include the patient in communications with the insurer to leverage their influence as the premium payer, often speeding up resolutions.
4. Schedule Accurately:
- Adjust fee schedules and appointment views to reflect accurate net production, helping with realistic revenue forecasting and efficient workflow management.
- Highlight provider vs. assistant time in the schedule for better coordination and staff utilization.
5. End-of-Day Procedures:
- Have providers review their daily production reports to catch and correct any discrepancies, ensuring all procedures are documented and billed correctly.
- Use the “Daily Procedures” report to verify all completed procedures are accounted for and appropriately charged.
Front Office Academy Tools:
Take advantage of the tools available in the Front Office Academy (FOA) for effective insurance billing and revenue management. Training on topics like Open Dental, selling treatment plans, and phone skills is readily accessible. If you’re a DSI member, make sure to use the included FOA resources and training to optimize your practice operations.
Don’t forget about the Office Manager and Insurance Account Revenue Cycle Workshop in Denver on November 1st-2nd, 2024. This workshop will cover essential topics like insurance billing, account revenue cycles, and leadership skills. The early bird discount ends on August 12, so register soon! For more information and to register, visit FOA Coaching Workshop.
By integrating these best practices and leveraging the resources available through the Front Office Academy, you can enhance your insurance billing efficiency, reduce errors, and maintain a robust account revenue cycle. This will improve the financial health of your practice, ensuring sustainable growth and success.
Cheers,
Sydney Robinson
Dental Success Network & FOA Coaching
