Many dental practices throughout the country rely on insurance networks to help bring in new patients and boost their bottom lines. However, many of them do not fully understand that enrolling in an insurance network is not enough. It’s critical that you optimize your networks to understand who you participate with, what networks are popular where you operate and that you are getting the most from your relationships with insurance companies.
What Networks Do You Participate In?
First, think critically about the networks that you participate in. Which ones are bringing you patients? Which ones have only brought you one or two patients? Which companies are the hardest to work with? Which ones deny the most claims? Since you need to complete the recredentialing process every year or every other year depending on your provider, it’s a good idea to review your contracts on a regular basis to see if they are worth renewing. If one insurance network provides you with few patients, ties up a great deal of time denying claims and is difficult to work with, it might be good to consider if that relationship is one worth continuing.
What Networks Are You Missing Out On?
Participating in an insurance network is meaningless if it isn’t the right one. Do research on other providers in your area and what networks they participate in. Look at major employers in your area and the plans that they participate in. A large employer could give you hundreds of patients, but you are only likely to attract them if you are an in-network dental practice for those patients.
How Can You Optimize Your Practice?
- Analyze your dental insurance participation to see where your revenue and patients are coming from. This analysis should be performed annually, and you might be surprised how helpful it is in clarifying your best insurance relationships and your worst ones.
- Work with your insurance networks to negotiate reimbursement fees with the help of APEX Reimbursement specialists. We can complete reimbursement negotiation on your behalf with any and all of your insurance networks.
- Educate your patients on how to take advantage of their dental benefits. Remind patients when their benefits are going to renew so that they can come in for annual preventative services, like cleanings.
APEX Reimbursement Specialists Can Help With Your Credentialing and Optimization
Whether you’re preparing for the recredentialing process or looking for assistance credentialing with a new provider, APEX Reimbursement Specialists is here to help. Contact our team today by calling (410) 710-6005. We look forward to working with you to make your practice a more profitable place.