Accounts Receivable (AR) follow-up is a critical part of the medical billing process, ensuring that healthcare providers receive timely payments for services rendered. At Soho Tech Services, we understand that efficient AR follow up is essential for maintaining a smooth cash flow and minimizing outstanding claims. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the importance of AR follow up and how it can enhance your practice's financial health.

What is AR follow up?

AR follow up refers to the process of managing and tracking unpaid medical claims that are still within the insurance company’s review period or that have been denied. This process involves contacting the insurance provider, reviewing the details of denied claims, and resubmitting them if necessary. The goal of AR follow up is to ensure that healthcare providers are reimbursed for their services as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Why is AR follow up Important?

Effective AR follow up plays a pivotal role in the financial stability of healthcare practices. Here’s why it’s crucial:

  1. Faster Payments: AR follow up ensures that outstanding claims are tracked and managed, leading to faster reimbursement and a healthier cash flow for your practice.
  2. Minimizing Claim Denials: A well-executed follow-up process can help identify errors or misunderstandings in claims that lead to denials. Correcting these issues quickly helps prevent financial losses.
  3. Reducing Write-offs: Without proper AR follow up, many claims may go unpaid, resulting in uncollected debts. RegulAR follow up helps to recover a significant portion of these outstanding amounts.
  4. Maximizing Revenue: Consistent AR follow up ensures that all claims are appropriately processed and paid, increasing your practice’s overall revenue and profitability.

Steps in the AR follow up Process

The AR follow up process can vary depending on your practice’s needs, but it generally follows these steps:

  1. Claim Review: The first step in AR follow up is reviewing the unpaid claims to ensure that they are legitimate. This involves checking whether the claim has been processed and if any information was missing or incorrect.
  2. Denial Analysis: If a claim is denied, the next step is to analyze the denial reason. Insurance companies typically provide a denial code that explains why a claim was rejected. Understanding these codes is key to determining whether the denial is due to an error or a valid reason.
  3. Resubmission of Claims: After identifying and correcting any issues, claims are resubmitted to the insurance company for payment. In some cases, additional documentation may be required to support the claim.
  4. Appeals Process: If claims are denied after resubmission, the next step is to appeal the decision. This involves submitting a formal appeal to the insurance company, which may require further documentation and explanation.
  5. Communication with Payers: Constant communication with insurance payers is essential to stay informed about the status of claims. RegulAR follow up calls or emails can ensure that claims are being processed and expedite payment.

How Soho Tech Services Can Help with AR follow up

At Soho Tech Services, we specialize in providing comprehensive AR follow up services tailored to the unique needs of your medical practice. Our team of experienced billing experts handles the entire AR follow up process, from claim review and denial analysis to resubmission and appeals.

By outsourcing your AR follow up to our experts, you can: