The Billing Intelligence Blog

Practical RCM analysis from nearly two decades of hands-on billing operations, by the ABA editorial team.

Revenue Recovery

Claim Underpayments: How to Find and Recover Lost Revenue (2026)

MGMA data shows practices lose 5–7% of net revenue to underpayments annually. How to audit payer remittances, spot the five most common patterns, and recover what you're owed through disputes that succeed 60–70% of the time.

By Ajay Pillai September 27, 2026 Read →
Billing Compliance

2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Conversion Factor, Key Changes & Billing Impact

Two-track conversion factors ($33.5675 APM / $33.4009 non-APM), the 2.5% efficiency adjustment on 9,000 codes, 285 inpatient-only procedures moving outpatient, and MIPS at 75 points — everything billing teams need to act on now.

By Ajay Pillai August 25, 2026 Read →
Revenue Cycle Management

Value-Based Care Billing Guide 2026: MIPS, APMs, and Getting Paid Under VBC

How to bill CCM, TCM, AWV, and RPM codes your FFS team is missing, score above the 75-point MIPS threshold, and capture the APM conversion factor advantage before ACO REACH ends December 31.

By Ajay Pillai August 25, 2026 Read →
Technology

AI in Medical Billing: What's Actually Working in 2026

AI is changing medical billing — but not the way the headlines claim. A ground-level look at what's actually being automated, where human expertise still wins, and what it means for your practice.

By Ajay Pillai August 23, 2026 Read →
Billing Compliance

Telehealth Billing Guide 2026: Medicare Rules, Codes, Modifiers, and Denials

Medicare telehealth billing changed significantly in 2026. New codes, modifier 95 vs 93, POS 02 vs 10, the October RHC/FQHC shift — here is what your billing team needs to get right.

By Ajay Pillai August 23, 2026 Read →
Operations

Medical Credentialing Services: Timelines, Costs, and How to Avoid Delays in 2026

Credentialing delays mean you cannot bill in-network — and every day costs real money. Realistic timelines by payer, what it actually costs, and when outsourcing pays for itself.

By Ajay Pillai August 17, 2026 Read →
Operations

Managed Care Contracts: How to Get In-Network and Negotiate Better Rates

Getting managed care contracts is the #1 challenge new and growing practices face. Here's the full process — credentialing vs contracting, fee schedule negotiation, and what to read before you sign.

By Ajay Pillai August 5, 2026 Read →
Denial Management

Claim Denial Rate Above 10%? Here's How to Cut It in Half (2026)

A claim denial rate above 10% is not bad luck — it's a systemic problem. Here are 7 proven strategies to cut it in half, based on what works in real billing operations across multiple specialties.

By Ajay Pillai June 20, 2026 Read →
Operations

In-House vs Outsourced Medical Billing: The Real Cost in 2026

When all hidden costs are included, in-house billing typically costs 8–15% of collections. Outsourced billing runs 3–10% — and often delivers better results.

By Ajay Pillai June 13, 2026 Read →
Denial Management

Top 10 Claim Denial Reasons (And How to Fix Each One)

Most claim denials fall into 10 predictable categories. Here's what each one means and exactly how to prevent it before the claim leaves your practice.

By Ajay Pillai June 6, 2026 Read →
Operations

5 Signs Your Billing Company Is Already Failing You

Denial rates that don't improve, AR that keeps aging, no transparent reporting — these aren't bumps. They're warnings. Here's what to look for and what to do.

By Ajay Pillai May 30, 2026 Read →
AR Management

What Are Good AR Days? 2026 Benchmarks by Specialty

Under 30 days in AR is excellent. Over 50 days is a problem. Here are the current benchmarks by specialty and what to do if yours is too high.

By Ajay Pillai May 23, 2026 Read →
Operations

Prior Authorization for DME: The Complete 2026 Guide

Authorization issues drive up to 30% of DME claim denials. Here's the exact workflow that prevents them — before a single claim gets submitted.

By Ajay Pillai May 16, 2026 Read →
Denial Management

Is Your Front Desk Costing You Revenue? Eligibility Failures Explained

27% of all claim denials trace back to eligibility errors at the front desk. Here's the verification workflow that eliminates them.

By Ajay Pillai May 9, 2026 Read →

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