When to hire billing help as a private practice therapist
Here’s how self-employed providers can find the financial administration support they need.
Insurance verification can help ensure the process of providing your therapeutic services is as smooth as possible.
Billing insurance as a therapist is one way to increase access to mental health care—but compared to private pay, working with insurance requires a few extra (and important) logistical steps. After getting credentialed with the insurance panels you want to work with, you’ll need to verify new clients’ coverage.
Insurance verification can help ensure the process of providing your therapeutic services is as smooth as possible. While you should definitely verify insurance prior to seeing a new client, it’s also a good idea to routinely check into your existing clients’ coverage prior to appointments.
In this article, learn more about why insurance verification is important and how to do it in your practice.
Insurance verification before each visit confirms a client’s active coverage, eligibility, and benefits with an insurance company. Verifying the client’s insurance ultimately prevents claim denials, identifies patient costs, and ensures compliance with payer rules.
Verifying insurance requires a few steps, including:
First, gather your client’s insurance information for verification. Generally, you’ll need your client’s insurance card (or a digital copy of it).
Next, contact the insurance provider to verify your client’s benefits. You can usually find contact information on the back of the insurance card.
Request pertinent information such as client co-pays, deductibles, effective dates, and covered services. Communicate any potential costs to your client prior to providing services to them.
After verifying your client’s insurance, make sure it’s updated in your electronic health record and/or billing system to ensure a seamless process next time you file a claim.
While insurance verification is essential to prevent unexpected costs, it can be a time-consuming process. Headway makes it easy for providers to focus on therapy—and ensures timely payment—by verifying insurance prior to each appointment.
When it comes to providing the best possible care to your clients—and improving operational efficiency in your practice—insurance verification is an essential piece of the puzzle.
Here are a few reasons why:
Verifying someone’s insurance before appointments helps reduce time-consuming billing errors that could delay your payment.
Issues with billing, eligibility, or coverage can disrupt the entire revenue cycle and negatively impact both the practice and client experience. Taking steps to verify insurance streamlines the process of both therapy and payment, reducing stress for everyone involved.
If a client’s insurance coverage has changed, they may face unexpected (and potentially stressful) therapy bills. Similarly, you may have issues with payment or have to re-submit insurance claims. This proactive step can help you avoid unwanted surprises when you see clients and bill for appointments.
As a therapist, your job is to protect the therapeutic relationship with your client—both in and out of therapy sessions. Verifying your clients’ insurance before appointments can help build trust and ensure stability in your relationship, so you can both focus on doing your therapeutic work together.
Here’s how self-employed providers can find the financial administration support they need.
Because credentialing involves verifying important details about your education and professional history, you’ll need to provide several documents.
Here’s how to choose the right one for you.