What is dental coding and billing?

Tips to increase dental collections
February 1, 2022
What are modifiers?
February 8, 2022

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As a dentist, you desire to centralize on providing exceptional service to your patients, but you may see yourself overlooking certain managerial responsibilities.

Dental billing and coding is a critical part of the practice to remain profitable, or else, you may find yourself leaving money on the table. With so many things going on in the realm of insurance, it does not matter if you are an established clinic or a startup. Every dental office struggles with this process at some level.

Don’t you worry we have a few dental billing recommendations to support you in keeping your practice’s admin organized.

What is a dental billing process? 
The dental billing process ensures that you do not have to worry about the cash flow stopping and successfully running the practice. The process begins with the insurance verification to get paid for the rendered service. The simpler the process, the higher the collections, with lower insurance aging reports and happy patients.

Do you know your codes?
Dental coding is crucial when it is about raising claims. When putting up a bill, make sure you add dental codes correctly.

As noted in the past, about 30% of the practices use code D0140 when conducting a limited procedure. The claim is negligible, as this is as per the routine evaluations done twice a year. Rather, understand when you should submit a D9110 code to improve the accuracy of your bills to receive reimbursement.

Did you understand the claims process?
Make sure you are confident about the process of how to raise or submit a claim to your insurance carrier. 

Understand how each carrier is distinct. A dentist has to enlist to register with the insurance provider when you initially begin your practice. Understand how the procedure functions and how they approve their respective claims.

Educate your staff:
A dentist knows how to cure dental problems, not how to handle accounting. While you are keen to provide the best of your services to your patients while they sit in the seat.

Make sure your attendants are up to date with their understanding for operating their positions. The more suitable they are, the more booming your practice will be.

Consider outsourcing to relieve the burden:
Outsourcing is a subject that’s filled with diverse opinions. Some see outsourcing to be an ideal multiplication to their business. With the correct strategy, outsourcing can save both time and money.

Be aware of your dues/overdue:
A report claims that over 37% of grown-ups in the US have outstanding medical bills to date. 

When patients have unsettled proportions, it indicates you took a backseat and lost money. Although you provided the services, it is time now to collect the dues.

The dental billing and coding process are a big chunk of your revenue cycle management. Yearly,  any dental practice loses 9% of the collective revenue in the billing process that can quickly add up regardless of the size of the dental practice.