Are you struggling with billing insurances? It may be a smart decision to outsource your insurance billing to an experienced acupuncture billing company. But the billing service you select will become more than just a services vendor—they‘ll become a partner in your financial success.

It‘s crucial for you to choose an acupuncture billing service very, very carefully. Cost will naturally play a role in your decision, but it shouldn‘t be the only concern you focus on as you consider your options. As part of the selection process, be sure to ask the following questions.

How much experience do you have in billing for acupuncture services?

A large and highly respected medical billing service may claim to have decades of expertise, but does it understand the nuances of acupuncture? A dermatologist has a vastly different set of needs and challenges than an acupuncture physician.

As part of this question, you may want to also consider whether the employees of the medical billing service are certified and to ask about their preparedness for the ICD-10 October 1, 2015 deadline and its impact on your practice.

What aspects of the revenue cycle do (and don‘t) you handle?

Some acupuncture billing companies can manage your entire revenue cycle including all insurance benefit verifications and follow-up responsibilities. Others offer more cut-and-dry billing-only services. Make sure you understand the difference!

Consider what you need help with and what you‘re doing well on your own. Then, make appropriate arrangements to meet your unique requirements so that you‘re getting all the services that you need.

Who can I call for references?

A prospective firm may say that they‘ll be able to increase your financial performance”¦ but can they back up that claim?

A reputable and effective acupuncture billing service should have more than one happy customer available for comment. Ask for references ”“ who can speak to the acupuncture billing company‘s reliability and effectiveness.