Patient billing is the lifeline of any dental practice. It affects both the reputation and revenue of the practice. Dental billing companies have to be extra careful when filing patients’ bills. You have to be keenly aware of the ways in which the errors can affect the process. Dental billing involves submitting claims to insurance providers, and errors can be catastrophic to the practice. It could also lead to legal issues and revenue loss.
How Incorrect Billing Information Can Disrupt Your Dental Practice
Here are some examples of how incorrect information can affect your practice.
- Revenue Loss
Incorrect billing can cause under-billing which can lead to revenue loss. Billing discrepancies can occur due to human error, outdated software, and inadequate training for staff. Inaccurate billing can significantly affect the revenue with practices losing around 5-10% of their revenue due to this. To avoid this negative consequence, the practice should have a robust billing process in place. With effective billing processes, staff training, regular billing record review and an investment into a billing software; or by choosing to outsource your billing to trusted dental billing services, dental practices can greatly reduce these errors and make sure they get paid on time.
- Increased Administrative Costs
When it comes to correcting improperly submitted bills, this requires additional administrative time and resources. The staff has to review and rectify the billing discrepancies, resubmit the claims and communicate with the patients as well as the insurance companies. This process can cause significant delays which further affects the practice’s patient care and finances.
To avoid these issues, practices should focus on implementing an efficient billing process. Physicians and their staff should receive regular training on billing practices, regulations and guidelines to stay up to date and compliant. A good electronic health record system can streamline billing and reduce errors. By doing this, physicians can devote more of their time to patient care and in turn, ensure a higher rate of patient satisfaction.
- Legal Issues
Billing errors can have serious legal consequences. Physicians and practices must ensure full legal compliance throughout the entire billing process. Examples of compliance include properly documenting all medical services, accurately coding procedures, and submitting claims in a timely manner. Failure to comply could result in legal action.
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Furthermore, accurate billing is crucial in maintaining the patients’ trust in the physician and the practice. Incorrect billing can also result in negative online reviews. Negative publicity can significantly hinder a practice’s ability to attract new patients or even retain current ones. Additionally, open and transparent communication with patients regarding the billing, and quick resolution of any issues can help maintain their trust and satisfaction.
Consider outsourcing your dental billing to experienced dental billing services. By allowing them to assist with your back office duties, this can greatly reduce errors and free up time for your staff to focus more on patient care. Professional billing companies are well-versed in compliance requirements and regulations.
Amber Darst is our Solutions Manager in the Healthcare Division, Practice and RCM. With a rich background in dental services, her expertise ranges from insurance coordination to office management.