Dental billing and CDT codes go together like peanut butter and jelly. As experienced business teams and dentists know, the Current Dental Terminology (CDT) system was designed to establish standardized codes and descriptions to report dental procedures. Yet, each year, coding updates, changes, and deletions mean earning something new every few months. And, reporting correct CDT codes, regardless of your participation with an insurance payer, is crucial to getting 100% of what you’re rightfully owed. Do you feel 100% confident that you are reporting the correct CDT codes on every dental claim? If not, keep reading.
Why is using the correct CDT code important in dental billing?
When dental offices send claims with inaccurate codes, even if it is inadvertent, they could face potential scrutiny and rejection from insurance payers. Some employees may send incorrect CDT codes to gain unauthorized insurance benefits to the dental practice. This would be considered potentially fraudulent coding.
This includes using the wrong CDT code, up-coding, or reporting a more complex and/or higher cost procedure than was actually performed, and the unbundling of procedures, which is essentially separating a dental procedure into separate parts that each have a charge associated with them. Reporting codes like this may lead to higher out-of-pocket copayments for the patients, causing frustration and distrust. This is why the best practice is for every dental biller to be updated on the CDT codes annually. Take a look at some of the benefits of applying the correct codes to your dental billing processes:
- • Streamlines your processes
When using accurate coding materials, the chance of your insurance claims being denied is greatly reduced, leading to a quicker, more efficient dental billing process - • Improves cash flow
When you’re not worried about whether or not a claim will be reimbursed properly, cash flow goes way up - • Compliance with insurance and the law
By adhering to the industry standard, your practice won’t need to worry about procedural errors that prevent reimbursement or cause potentially legally harmful problems - • Improve data analytics
You can better track procedural analytics through accurate coding to see which treatments are most valuable to your patients and your practice’s growth - • Fosters and maintains patient trust
Knowing the correct procedural billing code means both you and your patients don’t have to worry about a surprise bill for a few thousand dollars or an excessive copay.
The benefits of clear and accurate claims can’t be overstated. But how do you navigate a seemingly endless world of change and regulation when your staff is busy with other daily tasks? No one wants to spend hours looking for the right codes and chasing down denials or rejections. Resources are available to help support your office in the billing process to better plan for growth.
Where can I find CDT coding resources for my dental biller?
Finding information as to the specific application of many CDT codes is limited. The missing link of CDT code updates and change information prevents your team from accessing what’s needed to send clean, accurate claims.
Practice Booster’s Dental Coding with Confidence provides you with that missing link, with guidance and strategies for proper application and reporting of the current CDT codes, while greatly decreasing code reporting errors that affect revenue and patient satisfaction. This coding resource can help you reduce errors and optimize legitimate reimbursement. Are you wondering if there’s an even easier way to help manage your billing and collections without having to invest in additional training or employee overhead?
Support your team and outsource peace of mind
Outsourcing the task of dental billing can be an effective solution to streamline your billing processes. You not only reduce the risk of claim denials and delayed reimbursements but also free up valuable time, money, and staff resources within your practice. This allows you to focus on providing exceptional patient care while confidently knowing that your dental billing and CDT coding are handled efficiently. You will experience this:
- • Peace of mind in knowing that your AR is being worked daily
- • Accountability in reporting to the practice owner and your in-house team
- • Dedicated billing support and follow-up for denials and rejections
- • Collecting 100% of what you’re rightfully owed
- • A support system that helps your team, not replace them
The platform suite with the CDT knowledge you need
eAssist Dental Solutions is your one-stop shop for almost every aspect of dental practice management. We’re serious about providing you with industry-leading dental billing processes and solutions customized to the needs of your practice. Whether you’re just getting started in dentistry or a veteran specialty dentist, your peace of mind is our achievable goal. By effectively putting your insurance billing on autopilot, you can rest easy knowing that your AR is being worked daily. Plus, we offer brand promises and the transparency of accountability that your finances deserve.
eAssist is proud to offer Practice Booster’s Online Code Advisor as a complimentary addition to our dental billing service. This resource allows your practice and your team of eAssist dental billing specialists access to the industry’s leading coding resource, opening the door to legitimate reimbursement and risk reduction. Sending clean claims with the correct CDT codes keeps revenue consistent and denied claims at a minimum. Schedule a no-obligation consultation with a Business Development Specialist below today and tell us where you want to see your practice in the upcoming year.
