Remove the Claims Barrier: A Powerful Way to Grow Your FFS Dental Practice

Imagine this. You are a fee-for-service dental practice that doesn't file insurance claims on behalf of your patients. A patient is sitting in your chair, ready to accept a high-value treatment plan. They hesitate, knowing their plan might cover a part of the fees but they don’t know how much, and they're worried about the insurance paperwork. Will they be able to do it themselves? How much time will it take? Will they even get reimbursed? 

And there is this scenario. A prospective patient has heard wonderful things about you and calls to express interest in becoming your patient. They mention their employer-provided dental benefits plan and are told that you do not participate in their insurance network or any PPOs for that matter. Without a great salesperson on your phone explaining how they can utilize their benefits and still receive the premium care you are known for, most will be hesitant to book an appointment. If they do book one, they might have second thoughts and be a no-show or cancellation.

What if, instead, your treatment coordinator and receptionist said, with total confidence, “Don’t worry. We can instantly find out what your plan covers, and we’ll help you file your claim so you can utilize your benefits.” Now you are much more likely to win that case or acquire that new patient.

Today’s Tech Flips the Switch on the Claims Dilemma

For years, many fee-for-service (FFS) dentists have navigated a tough choice: maintain control over their fees and keep their team out of the claims process, or try to attract insured patients. This dilemma often means losing patients who want to use their benefits but are hesitant to handle the complex paperwork on their own.

While the FFS model offers the freedom of undiscounted fees and less administrative hassle, it can put a significant burden on the patient. This frequently becomes a barrier to treatment acceptance and a hurdle to patient acquisition.

What if you could have the best of both worlds? The secret lies in a simple, yet powerful, change: using modern technology to eliminate patient uncertainty about what their insurance will cover. This isn't just about making patients happy; it's about making your practice more profitable.

The Patient's Pain Point: The Burden of Paperwork

In today's market, patients expect a seamless experience, which includes help with navigating their insurance benefits. No one wants to deal with confusing forms, follow-up calls, or a long wait for a reimbursement check. This administrative hurdle can cause patients to delay or decline treatment—or even choose a different dentist altogether.

This problem isn't unique to FFS practices. Even practices that accept PPO plans know that a confusing or slow claims process can lead to frustration and a lack of trust. The more effort a patient has to put in, the less likely they are to accept a treatment plan, and the less likely they are to become a loyal patient.

How Curve Dental's Technology Transforms the Process

The good news is that you don't have to change your practice's financial model to solve this problem. You can still charge your full undiscounted fees and collect payment upfront. The key change is that your dental team, powered by efficient software, takes on the claims submission process.

Here’s how a solution like Curve Dental^® makes this seamless and profitable:

• Eligibility in Minutes: Before the patient even leaves the chair, your team can use Eligibility+ to verify their benefits quickly. This eliminates guesswork, allows you to inform the patient about their coverage accurately, and saves your staff a significant amount of time.

• Claims Processing in a Few Clicks: Forget manual paperwork and long delays. With Curve's revenue cycle management features, your team can generate and submit claims electronically in just a few clicks. This process is fast, accurate, and virtually eliminates the errors that can lead to denied claims and frustrated patients.

Completing the Loop: A Full-Cycle Solution for Any Practice

While Eligibility+ optimizes the start of the revenue cycle, ERA and EFT auto-posting provide a clean, accurate finish. With these features, Curve doesn't just submit the claim; it also handles the payment that follows.

When the insurance company sends the reimbursement to the patient (in an FFS model) or to your practice (in a PPO model), Curve automatically matches the payment with the original claim. This eliminates manual reconciliation—a common source of billing errors and administrative waste. The system handles the "what" (the ERA) and the "where" (the EFT), ensuring that the insurance reimbursement is posted accurately without any manual work from your team.

This closed-loop system is a prime example of a patient-first approach. By combining accurate upfront verification with automated payment posting, your practice creates a smooth, predictable financial experience for both your team and your patients.

The Win-Win Scenario: More Patients, More Revenue

By taking on the claims process, you're not just providing a service—you're building a powerful competitive advantage. You have a choice in how you do it. Your practice can either help patients file for direct reimbursement or manage the process from start to finish.

• Option 1: Help the Patient File for Direct Reimbursement: With this approach, your team simply files the claim electronically using Curve's software. The insurance company then sends the reimbursement check directly to the patient. This is a simple courtesy that dramatically improves the patient experience without adding financial complexity to your practice's workflow.
• Option 2: File the Claim and Reimburse the Patient: For a higher level of service, your practice can elect to have the insurance reimbursement sent to you. After receiving the funds, your team then reimburses the patient the appropriate amount. Curve's ERA and EFT auto-posting features are essential here, as they automatically match the incoming payment to the correct patient account, eliminating manual reconciliation and promoting a smooth, error-free process.

Regardless of the method you choose, the benefits for both the patient and the practice are clear. Patients are saved from hassle and get reimbursement faster. The practice sees higher treatment acceptance rates by removing the claims barrier. Your practice becomes more appealing to a broader range of patients, including those who value their insurance benefits and out-of-network patients who might otherwise have gone elsewhere. 

The minimal time it takes to file a claim with Curve is more than offset by the increased revenue and patient satisfaction.

The Time to Evolve Is Now

Modern dental software has made it possible for any practice to offer a patient-centric claims experience without compromising their business model. This approach positions your practice as both a provider of premium care and a leader in patient convenience. It’s a powerful combination that will attract and retain more patients.

Seeing Is Believing

Scheduling a demo is the first step to seeing the speed and convenience of adding insurance eligibility and error-free electronic claims processing. During your Curve Dental demonstration and consultation, we will show you many built-in features that streamline all aspects of managing and growing a practice. You’ll see firsthand the significant ROI you can immediately achieve and the ease with which you and your team will adapt to using today’s most advanced dental practice management platform.

Don’t spend another year stuck in your current way of doing business. Schedule your Curve demo today!