In any agreement or contract, both parties are responsible to do certain things. When you hire a home contractor, for example, they are obligated to complete the project, and you as the customer must pay them. In dentistry, you pledge to deliver outstanding care to your patients, and they pay you either through their insurance company or out-of-pocket. Obviously, in real life, this division of responsibilities can get more complicated.
Even when something is the patient’s responsibility, you and your dental office team may have to take extra steps to avoid delays in payment or complications in insurance claims. Keep reading to learn more about just four examples of patient billing responsibilities and what you may need to do to help make transactions smoother.
Provide Accurate Dental Insurance Information
Without correct insurance information, such as the group or policy number, your office will not be able to confirm benefits or file claims. Patients can make honest mistakes, which is why verifying dental insurance well before the appointment is strongly recommended. This extra time will allow you to reach out to the patient to obtain the right information and make billing easier later.
Share Medical History, Allergies, and Current General Health
Even though a dentist isn’t a medical doctor or physician, various conditions can impact the mouth and vice versa. Without a clear, complete picture of the patient’s health, a dentist may not be held fully responsible for negative reactions. Patients must let their dentist know about medications they are taking, allergies, medical conditions, and symptoms so that they can not only stay safe but receive the best, personalized care. In addition, under certain circumstances, some dental treatments may fall under medical insurance, potentially saving the patient more and ensuring that claims are filed correctly.
At each appointment, you must ask patients if anything has changed from the last visit, including their dental and medical insurance, medical conditions, and more.
Follow Through with Treatment
After you’ve explained their treatment plan, the decision to move forward ultimately belongs to the patient. They are responsible for what could happen if they choose not to receive the treatment. However, in some cases, a simple reminder or follow-up can give the patient enough of a boost to proceed with treatment they need or want. Reaching out to patients with unfinished treatment plans can also bring in thousands of dollars of potential revenue!
Pay for What Dental Insurance Doesn’t Pay
When your patient comes in for the first visit, they sign several forms, including one that acknowledges their obligation to pay. Although you don’t need to dwell on this responsibility, it’s important for them to understand it.
If the time comes when their dental insurance doesn’t pay for something, you’ll need to approach the patient for payment. Again, verifying insurance benefits should prevent this unpleasant situation from happening often.
As you can probably see, helping patients meet these responsibilities can be time consuming, but they are essential if you want your practice to receive owed payment. Fortunately, you don’t have to overwhelm your team with these added tasks. Dental Support Specialties can take these responsibilities off your plate, so you can focus on excellent care with every appointment.
About Dental Support Specialties
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Dental Support Specialties has provided remote administrative services to dental offices throughout the country. With years of experience working with dental insurance companies, we know how to handle challenging billing situations in a professional manner. We can also talk to patients about payment collections, representing your practice in the best way possible. To learn more about our services, contact us online here.