Building a Patient-Friendly Financial Policy for Your Podiatry Practice
A strong financial policy isn’t just about collecting money—it’s about setting expectations, maintaining compliance, and creating trust with patients. When done right, it prevents misunderstandings and supports consistent revenue. Tips for Creating a Patient-Friendly Policy • Put It in Writing: List co-pays, deductibles, late fees, and payment methods clearly. • Require Signatures: Have patients sign the policy […]
Podiatry Billing Hacks: How to Get Paid Faster
Cash flow is the lifeblood of any podiatry practice. The faster you get paid, the more stability you have to cover payroll, invest in equipment, and grow your business. Here are five hacks to help podiatrists get paid faster: 1. Collect Co-Pays Up Front Train staff to confidently and empathetically collect co-pays at check-in. This […]
The True Cost of In-House Billing vs. Outsourcing for Podiatrists
On the surface, keeping billing in-house may seem cheaper than outsourcing. After all, you’re already paying staff—why pay another company? But when you look deeper, the costs of in-house billing add up fast. The Hidden Costs of In-House Billing • Staff Time: Every denied claim requires follow-up calls, resubmissions, and hours of effort. That’s time […]
How to Train Your Staff to Handle “I Forgot My Wallet” Patients
Every podiatry practice has encountered this: a patient checks out after a visit and says, “I forgot my wallet.” Or worse, “Just send me a bill.” Left unaddressed, these situations eat into revenue and create unnecessary follow-up work. But there’s good news: with training, scripts, and clear policies, your staff can handle these situations effectively. […]
5 Tips to Reduce Claim Denials in Your Podiatry Practice
Denied claims aren’t just paperwork—they’re lost revenue. Every denial means more staff time spent fixing errors, more delays in cash flow, and sometimes, money that’s never recovered. Podiatrists, in particular, deal with high denial rates due to the specialized and sometimes misunderstood nature of foot care. So how can you reduce denials and make sure […]
Why Podiatry Practices Struggle with Billing — And How to Fix It
Running a podiatry practice means balancing patient care, staff coordination, and business operations—all while navigating the complicated world of medical billing. Unfortunately, billing is often the weak link. Claims get denied. Payments are delayed. Patients resist paying co-pays. Before long, practices see cash flow issues that threaten financial stability. So, why is billing such a […]
The October Readiness Master Checklist (ICD‑10, HCPCS, CPT Preview)
October 1 flips the switch on ICD‑10‑CM FY 2026 and the Q4 HCPCS file. CPT changes don’t go live until January 1, 2026, but Q4 is when wise practices get ready. Use this master checklist to keep your podiatry billing clean and compliant. Systems & data • Import FY 2026 ICD‑10‑CM and Q4 HCPCS tables; […]
Deep Dive: Ulcer & Injury Coding Precision for Foot and Ankle in FY 2026
October’s diagnosis update isn’t just a file refresh; it’s an invitation to level up clinical specificity—the difference between smooth payments and needless denials. Non‑pressure ulcers (L97‑): how to pick the right code every time • Anatomic site is king: Choose among heel/midfoot/other part of foot/ankle and add laterality. Your note should state the exact site […]
Wound Care in Q4: Skin Substitutes Delayed, Documentation Tightened
If your practice treats diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and chronic venous leg ulcers (VLUs), the last 18 months have been a moving target. October doesn’t launch the new national skin substitute/CTP coverage policies after all—their effective date is delayed to January 1, 2026. That’s breathing room, but it’s also a warning to elevate documentation now. […]
CPT in October? Here’s What Really Changes (and What Doesn’t)
Every October brings ICD‑10 updates—but CPT is different. Most CPT code changes take effect January 1 each year. So what should a podiatry practice actually do in October 2025 about CPT? Prepare, preview, and pre‑train. What’s actually new in the CPT world • CPT 2026 code set released in September: The AMA publishes the upcoming CPT […]