How a Medical Billing Company Handles AR Follow-ups
In the complex world of healthcare revenue cycle management, one of the most critical yet often overlooked components is Accounts Receivable (AR) follow-up. Poor AR management can lead to delayed payments, increased denials, and lost revenue. This is where a professional medical billing company like thrive medical billing makes a significant difference. By implementing a strategic and consistent AR follow-up process, they help healthcare providers maximize collections and maintain a healthy cash flow.
AR follow-up refers to the process of tracking and resolving unpaid claims from insurance companies and patients. The goal is to ensure that every dollar owed to the provider is collected in the shortest possible time frame. thrive medical billing excels in AR follow-up by using a proactive, data-driven approach that reduces aging claims and prevents write-offs.
Understanding the AR Process
Accounts Receivable is the money owed to a healthcare provider for services already rendered but not yet paid. These outstanding amounts typically come from:
Insurance companies (primary, secondary, tertiary)
Patients (copays, deductibles, coinsurance)
Government payers (Medicare, Medicaid)
The AR process begins the moment a claim is submitted and continues until the payment is received or the balance is resolved. A dedicated medical billing company like thrive medical billing handles every phase of this process, ensuring that claims don’t fall through the cracks.
Importance of Effective AR Follow-ups
Efficient AR follow-up is vital for several reasons:
Reduces claim aging: The longer a claim remains unpaid, the harder it becomes to collect.
Increases revenue: Timely follow-ups ensure that claims are processed and paid without unnecessary delays.
Improves cash flow: Regular collections maintain liquidity for salaries, supplies, and overhead.
Prevents write-offs: Unresolved claims often get written off, leading to revenue loss.
Enhances practice performance: A low AR aging percentage indicates a well-managed revenue cycle.
thrive medical billing, as a leading medical billing company, offers comprehensive AR management services that address these challenges and ensure that providers are reimbursed promptly and accurately.
Step-by-Step AR Follow-up Process by thrive medical billing
Step 1: AR Segmentation and Prioritization
The first step in the AR follow-up process is segmenting the accounts based on the number of days outstanding (commonly 30, 60, 90, and 120+ days). Claims are also categorized by payer, claim amount, and type of service.
thrive medical billing uses intelligent software to prioritize high-value and aging claims to ensure they receive immediate attention. This reduces the risk of timely filing denials and helps providers recover more revenue.
Step 2: Analysis of Denied or Unpaid Claims
Not all claims are unpaid because of negligence or delay—many are denied for specific reasons such as coding errors, missing information, or authorization issues. thrive medical billing assigns a dedicated AR analyst to review each unpaid or denied claim thoroughly.
Their analysts look for:
Payer-specific denial codes
Missing documents or authorization
Eligibility issues
Coordination of benefits problems
Timely filing status
Once the issue is identified, the claim is corrected and resubmitted swiftly, preventing further delay.
Step 3: Insurance Follow-up Calls and Portals
After a claim is submitted, thrive medical billing proactively follows up with insurance companies to check claim status, resolve disputes, or expedite processing. This is done through:
Direct phone calls to payer representatives
Online payer portals for claim tracking
Fax and email communications when needed
Unlike many billing companies that wait passively for a response, thrive medical billing takes initiative, ensuring every claim is accounted for and pushed through the system.
Step 4: Appeal Management
If a claim is denied for reasons deemed incorrect or unjustified, thrive medical billing initiates a formal appeal process. Their team prepares:
Appeal letters
Supporting documentation
Medical necessity justifications
Provider notes and chart entries
They track appeal deadlines and follow through until the issue is resolved. A professional medical billing company like thrive medical billing knows the importance of persistence in appealing denied claims, especially those of high value.
Step 5: Patient Collections and Communication
Not all AR follow-ups are with insurance payers. Patient balances also form a significant part of receivables. thrive medical billing ensures that patients are informed about their balances in a respectful and clear manner.
Their patient collection process includes:
Clear and accurate statements
Reminder emails and calls
Online payment options
Patient helpline for billing inquiries
Their compassionate approach ensures that collections do not damage the patient-provider relationship while still maintaining revenue integrity.
Step 6: Regular AR Reporting
Transparency is key in AR management. thrive medical billing provides healthcare providers with real-time AR reports that highlight:
Aging claims by payer
Collection success rates
Denial trends
Appeals and outcomes
Outstanding patient balances
These reports help practices make informed decisions, improve internal processes, and measure billing performance over time.
Step 7: Trend Analysis and Process Improvement
AR follow-up is not just about chasing payments—it’s also about identifying patterns that cause delays. thrive medical billing analyzes trends in denials, rejections, and slow payments to identify root causes and suggest preventive strategies.
Common findings include:
Frequent coding errors
Missing authorizations
Eligibility missteps
Payer-specific rule violations
By addressing these issues at the source, the number of follow-ups needed decreases, making the overall billing cycle more efficient.
Tools and Technologies Used by thrive medical billing
To optimize AR follow-ups, thrive medical billing uses state-of-the-art tools and billing platforms that integrate seamlessly with EHRs and practice management systems. These tools offer:
Automated task assignment
Real-time claim status updates
Centralized documentation
Secure communication logs
Audit trails for compliance
Such tools not only streamline the workflow but also ensure regulatory compliance with HIPAA and payer-specific guidelines.
The Impact of Professional AR Management
Partnering with a trusted medical billing company like thrive medical billing brings measurable improvements to your practice’s financial performance:
Reduction in AR over 90 days: Claims that sit in AR beyond 90 days are less likely to be paid. thrive medical billing reduces this significantly through constant follow-up.
Higher collection rates: Their team ensures that fewer claims are written off or sent to collections.
Shorter payment cycles: By resolving issues proactively, payments are received faster.
Improved cash flow: Timely reimbursements mean your practice always has the working capital it needs.
Enhanced staff focus: With billing handled externally, your internal staff can focus on patient care instead of administrative follow-ups.
Why Choose thrive medical billing for AR Follow-ups?
There are many billing companies in the market, but thrive medical billing stands out due to its:
Experienced AR specialists: Trained professionals who know the ins and outs of payer systems.
Customized workflows: Tailored follow-up strategies based on your specialty, payer mix, and claim volume.
Transparent reporting: Real-time access to AR dashboards and reports.
Commitment to results: Their success is measured by your revenue gains.
Conclusion
In today’s healthcare environment, AR follow-up is not optional—it’s essential. Without diligent follow-up, even clean claims can go unpaid, and revenue losses can add up quickly. A reliable medical billing company like thrive medical billing ensures that no claim is left behind, no balance is forgotten, and no dollar is lost.
By combining expertise, technology, and a proactive mindset, thrive medical billing offers a complete AR management solution that boosts collections, reduces claim aging, and enhances overall financial performance. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or a multi-location clinic, trusting your AR process to a capable partner like thrive medical billing is one of the smartest decisions you can make for your practice’s long-term success.