How to Choose a Medical Billing Company: 12 Questions

The right medical billing company is the one that shows you exactly who follows up on unpaid claims, what you will pay, and how you will see results. Before you sign, ask how it handles denials, what its fee covers, and what happens to your data if you leave. A clear answer tells you more than a sales deck.

These 12 questions will help you compare companies on what matters: getting paid for work you already did.

Ask about your money

1. Who follows up on each unpaid claim, and how often? You want a named process, not "we stay on top of it."
2. How do you handle denials? Ask whether they find the root cause or just resubmit.
3. Will you work my old AR? Many companies only take new claims. Get the answer in writing.
4. How do you catch underpayments? Paid does not always mean paid correctly.

Ask about the fee

5. How is the fee calculated? Ask what it is based on, such as collections or claims.
6. What costs extra? Check credentialing, old AR, patient calls, appeals and reports.
7. Is there a setup fee or a minimum? Small costs add up in a tight month.

Ask about proof and reporting

8. What will I see each month, and from what baseline? Ask for a sample report before you sign.
9. Do you work with my specialty? Therapy, psychiatry and chiropractic each have their own rules, so ask for specifics.

Ask about risk

10. Who will touch my data, and where are they? Ask how access is granted, tracked and removed.
11. Will you sign a business associate agreement? You need this before any patient information is shared.
12. What happens if we part ways? Find out who finishes open claims and how you get your data back.

Red flags

• They guarantee higher collections before seeing your numbers.
• They cannot explain the fee in one sentence.
• They will not show a sample report.
• Nobody can name who works your account.

The next step

Take these questions to every company you are comparing, including ours. Book a call and we will show you what we would check first, or request a proposal based on your practice.