Recent changes in the PI industry have emphasized the importance of ensuring your billing practices are more efficient than ever. As the PIP suit attorneys still struggle to find the best way to continue helping medical providers collect balances owed on their behalf, making sure you bill PIP claims correctly from the start plays a key role in ensuring you maximize your PIP recovery on every PI patient. Here’s some of the best strategies that all medical practices should train their Front Desk and intake staff on to help increase PIP collections in 2025:
1. Collecting all accident information prior to the patient’s first visit
This includes date of accident, whether the patient has received treatment by any other provider (including paramedics) within 14 days, and the correct PIP carrier and claim number that covers the patient. If you wait too long to get all these details, you might find yourself with hundreds if not thousands of dollars’ worth of treatment only to find out later that the patient has no insurance coverage to pay your bills. Try to discuss all these details during your first interaction with the patient while setting up the initial appointment to ensure that by the time they come to your office for the first visit, they have all the information needed and have already discussed with their attorney any questions they may have.
2. Track the status of required tasks for every new patient
This is one of the toughest strategies for clinics to implement if they’re not used to it, but it is by far one of the most efficient if you want to increase your collections. Take advantage of tools such as spreadsheets or EMR software to keep track of missing information or processes that will impact your ability to get paid. As soon as a new patient starts treatment, make sure to add them to your list and keep track of items such as data entry, PIP coverage verification, BI limits, Notice of Initiation submission, 14-day treatment confirmation, EMC determination, and PIP suit status. You can customize it according to your office requirements
3. Ensure your patient signs all required paperwork
It is crucial to get all required paperwork properly filled out before the patient leaves your office. Forms such as the Assignment of Benefits, Standard Disclosure & Acknowledgement and an Automobile Insurance Questionnaire are specially important for all your PIP files. Do a thorough review to confirm that every page was filled out properly and completely before scanning them into your EMR or putting them on the file.
4. Promptly enter all data into the EMR/billing system
Part of your closing tasks before the end of each shift should include entering all data for every new patient file as much as possible. This will help all the other processes by the rest of the team to be completed smoothly and avoid mistakes. If your patient filled out their intake electronically, make sure to review all information entered is correct, particularly the data related to the accident and insurance information.
5. Schedule the patient in advance to comply with their treatment plan
Having all the prior steps done properly can only go so far in helping increase PIP collections. Once the file has been properly processed and the insurance coverage confirmed, all your Front Desk staff has to do is make sure your patient is scheduled according to the doctor’s prescription. Do not allow anyone to deviate from the prescribed treatment plan without scheduling the patient for a re-eval or consult with the doctor. Use your scheduling system to set up appointments for 2-4 weeks at a time and you’ll see your patient compliance and collections significantly improve!
Don’t miss our article in the next magazine issue where we’ll discuss the top ways in which your billing staff can help improve PIP collections for your medical practice.
Angely C. Maria
Senior Biller & Consultant, AMB Group
