October 2024 Blog: We all know it is hard to keep up with the frequent changes to billing regulations and coding. Not to mention the complexity of medical/dental coordination of benefits. This month, we are going back to the basics of a medical claim form submission.

September 2024 Blog: Dental billing, especially for specialties like periodontics and oral surgery, is extremely complex with frequent changes to regulations and coding. Claims management is also rapidly evolving in the face of new electronic transmission and clearinghouse updates. It’s essential to have good resources to keep you up-to-date. Check out our favorite blogs (in addition to our own!) and podcasts.

August 2024 Blog: As summer comes to an end, we reflect on our unique billing vantage point. Our staff performs full-service billing to a range of practices each and every day across various states. Some are small single providers while others are multi-provider practices with many locations. Our strength is to see big-picture trends and use what we know and learn in one circumstance and apply it elsewhere – it is our unique billing vantage point.

July 2024 Blog: Whether you are a general dentist, a specialist, a single provider, or a group/facility, your taxonomy has an impact on your billing. Healthcare taxonomy is a code set used to classify different types of providers and their specialties. Data related to these categorizations directly impact insurance claims processing and structured reimbursement models. When is the last time you reviewed your taxonomy?

June 2024 Blog: It’s been just about 4 months since the CHC/Emdeon outage. Hopefully, you’re sending the majority of your claims electronically again. Phew! But are they going to the insurance company you intended? Payer ID’s differ depending on the clearinghouse you are using for submission – and you just switched to a new clearinghouse. Time for a refresher on setting up and reviewing your database insurance profiles to make sure they are up-to-date.

May 2024 Blog: The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and the American Dental Association (ADA) have both issued bulletins that the FBI is warning of potential targeted cybersecurity attacks. While this current threat is focused on oral and maxillofacial surgeons, the FBI is concerned that the practices of general dentists and other specialists could also eventually be targeted. How can you be proactive?

April 2024 Blog: We all know it is hard to keep up with the frequent changes to billing regulations and coding. Not to mention practice software updates and, at times, in-house staff turnover. But throw in the recent widespread clearinghouse migrations and it can be nearly overwhelming! So, let’s restart and refresh. This month, we are going back to the basics of a dental claim form submission.

March 2024 Blog: In light of the extraordinary impact on healthcare providers as a result of the Change Healthcare/Optum cyberattack, our blog this month will focus on centralizing helpful resources regarding claim submissions during this unprecedented circumstance. We know firsthand that even a minor disruption in timely claim processing can adversely affect a practice’s cashflow and sustainability. So, as the situation continues to evolve, we will regularly update this blog with resources as a way to help during this challenging time.

February 2024 Blog: Our billing blogs often talk about the foundational workflows that set billing management up for success –insurance verification is no exception! Understanding a patient’s insurance coverage and benefits sets the stage for accurate treatment estimates and claim submissions. We assure you that prioritizing your insurance verification process will be time well spent. So, what is a good insurance verification?

January 2024 Blog: Over the last few years, provisions focusing on protections and restrictions related to surprise medical bills for patients have been introduced. What do dental and oral surgery providers need to about these new rules? When does it apply to their patients? How do providers need to address and adapt to these evolving changes?

December Blog: 2024 Brings New Codes & More! Looking ahead, this January will bring a new set of CDT, CPT, ICD codes and a new 2024 ADA claim form. Incorporating all of these changes has a broad impact on your practice.

November Blog: Following up on outstanding open claims can be a daunting task – navigating dozens of online payer portals and waiting endlessly on hold for a representative. Add that to your existing list of daily responsibilities and insurance follow-up can easily make even a seasoned biller feel overwhelmed. But, fear not. We have 3 steps to make it manageable.

October Blog: An accurate and complete claim submission is always the goal. But sometimes you need to make a correction or retraction to a claim that you have already submitted to a payer. We’re in luck as there is a process to handle both circumstances!

September Blog: Aging of Accounts Receivable. Timing is crucial to a healthy cashflow. The older an invoice or insurance claim becomes, the harder is it to recover. Do you have a “healthy” A/R?

August Blog: Coordination of Benefits for Oral Surgery - Determining medical / dental COB through insurance verification

July Blog: At DBCP, our motto is “make it easier for the next person” and it’s our way of acknowledging that you can do things fast, quick, and rushed OR you can take the time to setup consistent processes that make the flow of work uniform, steady, and ultimately easier for the person doing the next task – and what a bonus when that’s also you. Enjoy 3 billing workflow tips!

June Blog: This month we break down the 5 Stages of Claim Processing: (1) Claim Submission, (2) Clearinghouse - electronic only, (3) Processing, (4) Explanation of Benefits - EOB, (5) Claim Completion.

May Blog: We all know that money in the bank is the #1 performance indicator! But that number shouldn’t be a guessing game or a surprise each month. What indicators are you using to measure practice performance? What database reports do you use regularly? How often do you review reports? Do you find that canned database reports are useful or would you benefit from custom reports? How are you setting performance benchmarks for the practice and for your staff and associates?

April Blog: From the moment a patient is entered into your practice management software their digital footprint begins. Their registration details, health history, and insurance information lay the foundation that all future information is built upon. Maximizing your billing starts here. Who enters data? Who checks data entry? What resources and training are available?

March Blog: So, you’re sending your claims electronically. Excellent! But are they going to the insurance company you intended? Just like a physical address, all insurance carriers have their own unique payer ID for electronic claim submissions. This payer ID is often listed right on the member’s insurance card to make it easier. But here’s the catch: payer ID’s differ depending on the clearinghouse you are using for submission. And, spoiler alert, electronic claim attachments often have their own ID as well.