Exploring Outsourced Dental Billing: 5 Essential Questions Answered

If you’re considering outsourcing your dental billing, you may have some questions about how it works, the cost involved, and who will be handling your claims. In this article, we will address five key questions that will help you gain a better understanding of outsourced dental billing. By exploring these questions, you can determine if outsourcing is the right billing solution for your practice.

1. What services can I expect? Outsourced dental billing companies offer a range of services to streamline your billing process and improve revenue collection. While specific services may vary between companies, the overarching goal is to handle insurance claims efficiently, allowing your in-house team to focus on patient care and office management. Typical services offered by dental billing companies include:

• Posting all types of insurance payments
• Managing insurance adjustments
• Submitting claims to clearinghouses with supporting documentation
• Handling primary and secondary electronic attachments
• Correcting missing patient information
• Reconciling insurance deposit details
• Appealing denied claims
• Analyzing insurance aging reports
• Setting up electronic funds transfers (EFTs)

By outsourcing these tasks, your in-house team gains valuable time to dedicate to patient care, resulting in improved overall practice efficiency.

2. Who will be handling my dental billing? When you outsource your dental billing, you will be assigned a remote dental biller who is an expert in handling insurance claims and familiar with your practice management software. These remote billers work under the guidance of a Team Leader who possesses extensive management experience in dental billing. They ensure that the billing process aligns with your practice’s needs and hold themselves accountable for your insurance receivables. You will have the opportunity to meet your remote biller and Team Leader through a Zoom call, establishing a personal connection and instilling trust in their capabilities.

3. How will the remote biller work with my administrative team? The remote dental biller is not intended to replace your in-house team members. Instead, they serve as an extension of your team, aiming to increase your insurance claims income while building a strong relationship with your staff. Your in-house team will initiate the insurance claim by providing all necessary information, including patient details, insurance provider information, attachments, and procedure codes. The remote biller will then review the claim, ensure it meets all requirements for quick reimbursement, and submit it to the insurance company. They will see the claim through until it is paid, even if it requires appeals or additional follow-up with the insurance provider.

4. What kind of results can I expect? Outsourcing your dental billing can yield positive results over time. With consistent and accurate claim submission and diligent work on your insurance aging report, you can anticipate an increase in your insurance collections. This means a significant boost to one half of your revenue stream. Dental billing companies have stringent hiring and training processes to ensure the expertise of their billers, leading to high-quality service for your practice. On average, you can expect your income profits to rise by 3-4% after a few months of outsourcing.

Apart from financial benefits, outsourcing also provides intangible advantages such as a happier in-house dental team. By relieving your team of the burden of handling insurance claims, they can focus more on patient care and avoid spending excessive time dealing with insurance companies.

5. What are the costs associated with outsourced dental billing? The cost of outsourced dental billing varies depending on factors such as the size of your practice and your monthly insurance collections. Most billing companies charge based on a percentage of your collections. As a mid-sized dental practice, you can expect to pay around $1,400 per month. However, it’s essential to consult with different billing companies to obtain accurate pricing information tailored to your specific needs.

Conclusion: Outsourced dental billing offers numerous benefits, allowing your practice to streamline operations, increase revenue, and provide better patient care. By asking these five crucial questions and conducting thorough research, you can make an informed decision about whether outsourcing dental billing is the right choice for your practice.