Can You Help with Old A/R? Yes—Here’s How We Approach It

If you’re staring at a stack of unpaid insurance claims or a bloated accounts receivable (A/R) report, you’re not alone. Many dental practices carry thousands of dollars in outstanding claims—sometimes for months or even years. The good news? You don’t have to write it all off.

Yes, I can help with old insurance A/R. And I have a clear, step-by-step process to clean it up, recover what’s collectible, and set your practice up for smoother cash flow moving forward.

First, What Is "Old A/R"?

Old A/R typically refers to any unpaid insurance claims that are over 30, 60, 90, or even 120+ days old. The longer a claim sits unpaid, the harder it becomes to collect—but it’s not impossible.

Many of these claims are still valid and just need follow-up, correction, or a fresh set of eyes to get resolved.

Why Practices Struggle with Aging A/R

Before we dive into the solution, it’s worth understanding why A/R piles up in the first place:

• Not enough time for consistent follow-up

• Lack of systems or tracking tools

• Claims denied and never resubmitted

• Incorrect coding or missing documentation

• Staff turnover or gaps in billing knowledge

None of this means your team isn’t working hard—it just means they need support. That’s where I come in.

Step 1: Full A/R Analysis and Prioritization

I begin by reviewing your current A/R report (often pulled by aging category: 30/60/90/120+ days). From there, I categorize outstanding balances by:

• Insurance carrier

• Claim type (e.g., PPO, Medicaid, secondary)

• Likelihood of recovery

• Claims that may need resubmission or appeals

This helps us focus efforts on the most collectible accounts first—without wasting time on those past timely filing limits or already paid.

Step 2: Insurance Follow-Up and Recovery

For each outstanding insurance claim, I:

• Review the original claim and documentation

• Check status directly with the payer (via portal or phone)

• Resubmit or correct any denied or rejected claims

• File appeals when necessary

• Document all communication and progress

Every claim gets thorough attention, even if it’s been sitting for months. If there’s a chance of recovering it, I’ll pursue it.

Step 3: Accurate Payment Posting and Adjustments

Sometimes payments are received but not posted correctly, leaving your reports looking worse than they are. I review:

• Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) and Electronic Remittance Advice (ERAs)

• Whether payments were applied to the correct procedures

• Contractual adjustments or write-offs that were missed or misapplied

Getting your ledger clean is key to understanding where your true A/R stands.

Step 4: Preventing Future A/R Build-Up

Cleaning up old A/R is great—but the real value is making sure it doesn’t happen again. Once the backlog is under control, I help you:

• Create a workflow for routine A/R follow-up

• Ensure timely claim submission and documentation

• Set up tracking systems to catch claims nearing timely filing limits

• Build in checks for accurate payment posting and reconciliation

With the right process in place, your A/R stays under control—and your revenue flows more predictably.

Final Thoughts

Yes, your old insurance A/R can be cleaned up—and no, you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s a few claims or a long-standing backlog, I’ll tackle it with a strategy that gets results.

Let’s recover what you’ve earned and put your billing process back on solid ground.

Have old claims gathering dust? Contact me to schedule a no-pressure review. I’ll help you get clear on what’s collectible and how to move forward.