Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1096300
H O W M U C H O F y ou r t ot a l A / R i s over 120 days? In a n idea l world, the percentage would be zero. The rea lity is more than likely your 120 plus days in A /R is between 15 to 20 percent of your tota l A /R , and hopefully not any greater than this. Once you review the A/R report, it may be time to have your billing sta ff focus on working the old A/R to get it paid, write it off or send it to a collection agency. The first step is to run an A/R aging report from your practice management system to determine who is responsible for the 120 plus days in A /R . Is it the insurance payer or the patient's respon- sibility? You will want to make a plan for each type of payer. + Insurance Payer: Run the A/R aging by insurance payer. Determine which payer has the most outstanding claims. Review your participation agreement for each insurance payer to determine if you are within the timely re-filing period. If not, consider writing off these accounts. Review the claim to determine the reason the claim was initially denied. For example, if you did not have the proper authorization at time of treatment, then you will not be paid, and this claim should be written off. + Patient R esponsibility: Run the A/R aging by patient responsibility. Determine if the patient is a recurring patient, or when the last time the patient was seen in the office. The front desk or billing staff should be notifying patients at the appointment reminder phone call that they have an outstanding balance and ask the patient for payment at this time. Do you have a policy regarding a patient making an appointment if they have an outstanding ba lance? How often do you send statements? The next step would be implementing a plan to work the outstanding A/R. There are various methods from oldest to most recent, highest to lowest amount, alpha- betically from A–Z or Z–A. No matter what your method, the key is to continue to work the A/R consistently. BY TOM TIDWELL WHEN YOU RE ViE W YOUR DECEMBER 2018 BiLLiNG REPORTS, TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT YOUR A /R AGiNG REPORT TO DE TERMiNE THE AMOUNT OF UNPAiD MONE Y iN THE 120-PLUS-DAY BUCKE T. Clean up your A/R Tom Tidwell 1 4