The saying, “garbage in, garbage out,” 100% applies to medical billing. In some circumstances, all it takes to receive a denied claim is a missing middle initial or forgetting to add a suffix to a name such as “Sr” or “III.” Names, numbers, and other identifying information need to be submitted onto claims exactly as they appear on the insurance card. Attention to detail at the front desk is one of the most essential attributes to look for when hiring front desk staff.
In general, the front desk is not always seen as a mission-critical position. The truth, though, is that the front desk is a pivotal position in the office. They are the first to greet patients, collect balances owed to the organization, confirm all required patient information is complete and correct, and must know how to reduce eligibility rejections and denials. Organizations that acknowledge the importance of an experienced and efficient front desk employee will be best positioned to reap the rewards of cleaner claims and decreased denials.