Running a private practice can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with insurance. One minute, you’re helping clients. The next, you’re sorting through confusing denials and rejections.

That’s why I invited Jeremy Zug from Practice Solutions to join me for this episode. Jeremy is an expert in helping therapists fix insurance issues, and his company offers simple solutions for therapists.

I’ll be honest. When I was working in a group practice, I didn’t handle billing. But hearing Jeremy talk about why these things happen opened my eyes.

There’s a huge difference between insurance denials and rejections. A rejection usually means there’s a technical issue. Something small, like a wrong birthdate or insurance ID. The good news? These are easy to fix and happen before the claim even reaches the insurance company.

A denial is more serious. It means the insurance company has reviewed the claim but refuses to pay. They say, “You can't charge the client for this.” That’s stressful.

According to Jeremy, the reasons for denials are often fixable:

• Duplicate claim submissions
• Coordination of benefits issues (like when a client switches insurance but you don’t know yet)
• Medical necessity issues (when insurers believe treatment isn’t required)

Jeremy also shared the tough truth about insurance companies. Companies like Evacore exist to “control the spend.” That means they often deny claims because they know only about 1% of providers will appeal. This blew my mind.

But here’s the thing:
You should appeal denials. Don’t give up. Many are errors or oversights that can be fixed quickly with a call or re-submission.

For therapists, balancing mental energy and revenue is crucial. Jeremy suggests smart strategies:

• Track denials and rejections carefully to find patterns.
• Diversify your insurance payer mix. Don’t rely on just one insurer. This protects you if a company stops paying temporarily.
• Appeal everything. Less than 1% of denials are appealed — don’t leave money on the table.

If you’re running a solo practice, this might sound overwhelming. That’s where Practice Solutions and Jeremy Zug step in. Their team offers expert practice solutions to handle billing, appeals, and even building in-house billing teams when practices grow.

Whether you’re new to insurance or thinking about adding it to your practice, their book on billing basics is a helpful place to start. 

At the end of the day, insurance doesn’t have to drain your energy. You can make thoughtful decisions that help you show up for your clients AND get paid for your work.

If this spoke to you, I highly recommend checking out Jeremy and Katherine at Practice Solutions. They have a special 20% discount for Selling the Couch listeners through this LINK. 

Podcast Sponsor (Alma)

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