Every member of your team serves a purpose in your dental practice. Your dental assistant takes X-rays and helps you during procedures, your hygienist performs routine cleanings, and your front desk team checks patients in and out. They each have their area of expertise, but one expert who should be on your team and is often taken for granted is a dental billing specialist. What exactly does this role offer your practice? What does a dental billing specialist do? Keep reading to find out!
Verifies and Researches the Patient’s Insurance Benefits
A dental billing specialist starts working before the patient even enters the practice for their appointment. After getting their insurance information in advance, this specialist reaches out to the insurance company to confirm that the patient has a valid policy. Also, they research the patient’s plan in greater detail, finding out what coverage they have, how much of their yearly maximum is still available, and other pertinent details.
Armed with this information, your practice can more accurately estimate the patient’s out-of-pocket costs for services and make sure you collect the correct amount from the patient at the time of service.
Translates Treatment Plans into Billing Codes
Not only do dental billing specialists need to be fluent in insurance codes, but they need to understand clinical terms and treatments enough to translate your services into billable codes. Without the proper codes, insurance companies will not pay claims, and your practice could even face fraud charges and legal trouble! As a result, you need someone who is not only knowledgeable about dentistry but also precise in their coding and claims paperwork.
Keeps Accurate and Detailed Records
In addition to being accurate in the coding, dental billing specialists must be detail oriented, especially when it comes to records. Invoices must include specific information, such as certain images or clinical phrasing, to ensure streamlined approval and payment from insurance companies.
Submits Claims and Follows Up with Insurance Companies
If your practice is like many dental offices, insurance claims make up a huge part of your revenue. You may not be able to afford delays in receiving these payments. A dental billing specialist handles submitting claims and interactions with insurance companies. In some situations, negotiations or discussions are required to push payments through, and this specialist dedicates their time and attention to making this happen.
In the end, even if you don’t have a dental billing specialist in your office, you need to have one in your corner. That’s where Dental Support Specialties can fill in this essential role for your practice, helping you get the money you’ve earned.
About Dental Support Specialties
Dental Support Specialties was established in 2008, and our team members have decades of experience working in dental offices. As a result, we know how to interact with insurance companies, handle billing, and work with patients in a way that reflects well on your practice. If you would like to see how Dental Support Specialties can make a difference for your business, contact our team online here.