The Aging Report is the pulse of your dental practice. If your "Over 90 Days" column is growing, you are essentially giving away free dentistry. Here is how to tackle the backlog and get paid.
1. The "Devaluation" of Claims
Money loses value over time. Statistics show that once a dental insurance claim passes the 90-day mark, the chance of collecting it drops to less than 40%. After 120 days, it's often written off.
2. Work from Oldest to Newest
It’s tempting to work on the easy, recent claims. However, your team must prioritize the 60+ and 90+ day buckets. These are urgent. If timely filing limits expire (often 1 year), that revenue is gone forever.
3. The Narrative Strategy
Often, claims sit in "pending" because the insurance company "didn't receive information." When following up on aged claims, always have the following ready to re-send immediately:
- Digital X-rays (dated).
- Periodontal charting (for SRPs).
- Intraoral photos (proof of fracture/decay).
- A concise clinical narrative.
4. Know Your Benchmarks
How do you know if you are healthy? Use these industry standards:
- 0-30 Days: Should be roughly 70-80% of total A/R.
- Over 90 Days: Should be less than 10% of total A/R.
Is your "Over 90 Days" bucket too high?
Don't guess. Use our free calculator to see exactly how much revenue is at risk.
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