You never know what someone is going through until you walk a mile in their shoes—so the saying goes. Even just imagining what a person does and experiences professionally can help you feel empathy and appreciation for them. As a dental practice owner, you could come to appreciate the workload of your employees and support staff by trying this exercise.
Although you may not necessarily have the opportunity to do what a dental biller does every day, you can get a glimpse into their world and appreciate how they can help your practice thrive.
In the Background
First, you should know that a dental biller mostly works behind the scenes to make sure your practice continues to bring in money you’re owed. They don’t participate in procedures or wear scrubs, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t contribute to the success of your business.
Without a dental biller on your side, your practice would struggle to pay the bills, pay employees, acquire new technology, and stay afloat.
On the Phone
A dental biller spends a good portion of their day on the phone for various purposes. For instance, they may be gathering your patient’s insurance information—namely the group number, policy number, and your insurer’s contact information—when they call to make the appointment. It’s best to collect this information upon scheduling to allow time for verification and so that claims can be filed immediately at the time of service.
Other times, again usually before the visit occurs, a dental biller must call the insurance provider to make sure the patient does actually have a policy and the patient’s information is complete and correct. This verification step is critical to make sure that claims go through smoothly and have as few denials or complications as possible.
Finally, dental billers can spend hours on the phone talking to dental insurance companies after the patient has left and claims have been filed. They work with the insurance provider appealing denied claims, following up on claim status, and confirming payments.
In a nutshell, a dental biller knows the inner workings of dental insurance and uses this payment method to your advantage!
Although the day-to-day tasks of a dental biller may not be very glamorous or flashy, you need to have a professional you can trust to handle dealing with insurance and patients. Hopefully, this peek into their typical day can let you know just how valuable this position is in helping your business stay on track financially and grow.
About Dental Support Specialties
Dental Support Specialties consists of a large team of experienced dental billers. Each understands the ins and outs of dental insurance, which means you get a significant advocate when you hire us. Outsourcing dental billing allows your in-office team to zero in on customer service and creating a better patient experience. If you are interested in learning more about our team, you can contact us online here.