Dresden Medical Management Group

A lot of practitioners ask us: How do I grow my revenue? How do I ensure my practice becomes more successful each year? Rather than focusing solely on what you can do to improve, consider what could break your practice—and then avoid it. Today, we’ll discuss what to avoid so your practice stays strong. Start with making decisions grounded in the big picture. Every decision matters, and a clear framework helps you see the path forward. Data should guide every decision in your practice. This includes medical billing and overall operations, revenue and expenses, and even subdividing revenue by provider or service type. With billing metrics, aim to understand charges and receipts as a baseline, then drill into denials and accounts receivable by patient and by insurance. Are copays being collected? How consistent is your collection at each patient visit? Grasping these details enables smarter decisions. For example, when considering a new provider, you can evaluate whether they will generat...

We’ve talked about how to grow revenue and how to identify gaps and correct them. Today, let’s discuss the mistakes that most often reduce revenue—and how to fix them. Number One: Metrics  You may be receiving reports from your billers and think that money in the checking account means everything is fine. But without a clear understanding of metrics, benchmarks, and KPIs, you’ll find revenue gaps appear five or six months later. Defining metrics is a must. Create an easy-to-read monthly metric report with benchmarks and work with your billing team to set up KPIs for areas that aren’t performing. Make sure front-office processes, prior authorizations, eligibility checks, and denials are visible in a dashboard or reports that everyone understands. If you don’t understand the metrics, you won’t know where gaps are or how to fix them. When you have clarity, you can identify what to improve, and you’ll see that billing, front office, and providers all need to align for revenue to grow....

  Myth One: Will my old AR be lost if I transition? This concern shows up in many conversations with practices that are unhappy with their current AR and are looking for a change. They wonder what happens to the bucket of money sitting in their accounts receivable. In reality, old AR typically includes unpaid claims from prior billing, which can involve insurance AR, patient AR, or claims that haven’t been adjudicated for one reason or another, as well as items in collections. There are a variety of reasons these claims aren’t paid yet, but old AR is not automatically lost. When we take on a transition, we can pursue that old AR. The exact approach depends on the software you’re using and what the implementation plan looks like. There is an important exception to keep in mind: claims past the timely filing limit should be written off or cleaned up so you can accurately measure performance. If you have a large amount of old AR from 2022 or 2023 with little to no expectation of payme...

Let’s talk finances. Physicians and healthcare providers who run a private practice and institute best practices with regards to finances are the ones who thrive. They’re the ones who bring in more revenue and really make a difference between those who are successful and those who aren’t. Some will end up out of business—this isn’t doom and gloom, but the truth is: you have to look at the revenue coming in and the expenses going out for any business to thrive. Your financial wellness must be a focus for your practice to succeed. If you have someone in-house who handles this, that’s great—as long as you maintain a pulse on what’s happening so you can guide decisions. You don’t have to be involved in every detail, but you should have a high-level understanding. Every dollar counts today, and we’re going to talk about five financial strategies to boost your private practice. Number One: Financial Benchmarks There needs to be someone overseeing operations and finances, whether you do this ...

Audits aren’t the most glamorous topic, but they’re a routine part of medical billing. Think of a payer audit as a check-in on documentation and coding - not a judgment of your clinical care, but a test of whether the notes and codes tell the right story. When you approach audits with a prepared mindset, they’re much less daunting and much easier to navigate. Start with responsiveness When a payer asks for charts or an audit response, promptness matters. A quick reply signals you’re on top of things and helps prevent payment holds. If you’re flagged, it can be a long road to getting off that list. So bring in the right people early and reply on time with what’s requested. Clear, timely communication sets the tone for what comes next and can reduce back-and-forth. What a payer audit is At its core, a payer audit is a structured request to verify that your documentation supports the codes you billed. It’s not about second-guessing your clinical decisions; it’s about ensuring the notes, l...

  Accounts Receivable isn’t just a number on a report. It’s the lifeblood of your practice’s financial health. Let’s break down what it really means - and how to keep it flowing. If you’ve ever wondered where your revenue stands right now - not just what’s been paid, but what’s still outstanding - then you already understand the importance of tracking your accounts receivable.   Your A/R represents all the reimbursement you’re still owed, whether by insurance carriers or patients. When it starts to mount, cash flow slows down. And in the world of private practice, cash flow isn’t just a metric - it’s what keeps your doors open.   That’s why monitoring your A/R should be a non-negotiable part of your monthly routine. Especially if you’ve recently onboarded a new billing team, noticed a dip in revenue, or just want to make sure everything’s running smoothly.   Let’s look at a few key metrics that can help you understand exactly how your A/R is performing...