Dos and Don’ts of insurance card entry

Hello January 2022! Another year gone!

We thought this would be a great time to go over certain processes that some practices may forget about.

With a new year comes insurance policy resets on out of pocket costs. During these first few weeks of the new year, it is especially important to verify insurance information . While we encourage this process to be completed at each visit, it is vital to get an updated copy of the card at the beginning of the year. By ensuring you have been provided with the correct insurance information, your billers can avoid common denials such as CO 27 – Expenses Incurred After the Patient’s Coverage was Terminated or CO 22 - Coordination of Benefits missing. These denials can result in huge set backs to your billing staff while they track down the correct information from the patient.

Below we have listed a few best practice Dos and Don’ts.

Do’s

• Obtain a new copy of any insurance card presented at the patient’s first visit during a new year.

• Verify the ID and group number are the same

• Verify network benefits for the new year as they apply to your practice

• Require an updated financial policy form signed if anything has changed.

Don’ts

• Don’t assume. the card information is the same - even if they patient says it is!

• Don’t delete old card information out of the system if it is no longer active - there may still be pending claims in the system with that policy information attached.

• Don’t forget to verify contact information - mailing address, phone, etc.

• Don’t forget to retain a copy of the both the front and back of the card.

Bottom line; it’s of the utmost importance to obtain this vital information from patients at the beginning of the year. This simple best practice will save your practice hours of time and money.