Running a dental practice is challenging enough without the added stress of unpaid claims or frustrated patients. Failing to verify insurance benefits before treatment can lead to denied claims, uncollectible bills, and even negative reviews that hurt your reputation. At Dental Support Specialties (DSS), we’ve helped countless practices avoid these pitfalls with our expert verification services. Here’s why verification matters—and how DSS can protect your bottom line.
The Cost of Skipping Verification
Consider a couple of real-world examples shared with us by current clients before using our Verification Service:
- A $2,500 “Broken” Crown: In the spring of 2019, a dentist performed a crown procedure, unaware the patient’s coverage had lapsed two months prior. The claim was denied, and the patient, also unaware of the lapse, couldn’t pay. The result? A $2,500 revenue loss, a frustrated patient who left a one-star Google review, and wasted chair time.
- A $3,300 “Falling” Bridge: More recently, a client came to us after completing a bridge procedure not knowing the patient’s new plan had a 12-month waiting period for major services. The insurance denied the $3,300 claim, leaving the patient’s family with a bill they couldn’t afford. The practice discounted the fee but still lost nearly $2,000. Proper verification would have flagged the waiting period, allowing the practice to delay treatment or secure upfront payment.
The Bigger Picture: Revenue, Production, and Patients at Risk
Stories like these are all too common. Industry data shows that 50% of dental claims are initially denied due to verification-related errors, costing practices 10-15% of potential revenue annually. But the damage goes beyond unpaid bills. Consider the hidden costs:
- Lost Production: Time spent on unpaid procedures could have been better used for covered patients.
- Staff Frustration: Chasing insurance payments or dealing with upset patients burns out your team.
- Patient Loss: Billing disputes erode trust, driving patients to competitors—and their negative reviews can deter new ones.
When you factor in wasted staff wages, missed opportunities, and downstream revenue from lost patients, the 10-15% potential revenue lost is just the tip of the iceberg.
How DSS Solves the Problem
At DSS, our insurance verification services eliminate these risks. Our team will retrieve the patient benefit information you need and have it entered into your software system before your patient even sits in the chair!
What about Emergency’s? No worries! DSS has you covered for any dental emergency situation. Our verification service includes ASAP requests with super fast turn around times putting needed information into the hands of your team so that treatment decisions can be made fast.
We will confirm eligibility, coverage details, and waiting periods – Whatever you need —saving your staff hours of tedious phone calls. Here’s how DSS can help your practice:
- Protect Revenue: Reduce claim denials and eliminate that 10-15% of potential revenue loss due to insurance errors.
- Boost Production: Maximize scheduling production with appointments you know are covered.
- Build Patient Trust: Transparent billing that helps patients maximize their benefits prevents disputes and fosters confidence & loyalty in your practice.
- Ease Staff Workload: Our verification service frees your team from insurance hold times in order to focus on patient care and new patient calls.
United States Based Support:
All verification Dental Support Specialties is completed by our US based support specialists using custom templates designed for each practice individually. We design our insurance templates alongside your team so that we are getting the information you need specific to your dentistry. Dental Support Specialties does not currently endorse the use of AI to verify benefits as we feel it is not ready due to weaknesses in the following areas.
- errors in interpreting complex policies
- lack of contextual understanding
- dictation mistakes
- privacy concerns
These issues can lead to claim denials, incorrect billing, or workflow disruptions, sometimes costing practices BIG when AI runs without human oversight.
Schedule Now For a Free Consultation
Don’t let another claim go unpaid or a patient walk away frustrated. Contact Dental Support Specialties today for a free consultation and see how our verification services can transform your practice and keep your team and patients smiling.
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