5 ways to reduce claim denials in your practice

Every denied claim is revenue you have already earned but not yet been paid for — and the cost of reworking it adds up fast. The good news is that most denials are preventable with a few disciplined habits.

1. Verify eligibility before the visit

We verify patient insurance no less than 48 hours before the date of appointment, and notify the practice of copays, coinsurance and outstanding obligations 24 hours ahead. Catching coverage issues early is the single highest-leverage step you can take.

2. Code from the documentation, not from memory

Certified CPC coders review and code every chart against the actual notes and post charges within the next business day. Accurate, documentation-backed coding is what survives payer scrutiny.

3. Work your clearinghouse edits daily

Errors and edits flagged by the clearinghouse should be resolved the same day, not batched up at month end. Small daily cleanup prevents large month-end write-offs.

4. Follow up on underpayments, not just denials

Underpayments often slip through because the claim technically “paid.” Systematic payer follow-up recovers dollars most practices never notice are missing.

5. Measure, then improve

Collections management reporting turns your denial data into a roadmap. When you can see which payers and codes drive denials, you can fix the root cause.