Dental Billing Academy

Do you really know which PPOs you’re contracted with — and how you’re contracted with them?

In this episode of the Dental Billing Academy Podcast, hosts Dr. Iris Han, DDS, and Jacquelyn Hurley are joined by Phyl Curtis of Unitas PPO Solutions to break down the PPO traps that catch dental practices off guard — from leased networks and umbrella contracts to fee schedules that aren’t what they appear to be.

Together, they explore how practices can unknowingly be in-network with PPOs they never directly contracted with, why the fee schedule you’re being paid from may not be the one you think, and why PPO decisions made out of frustration can create bigger problems down the road. Whether you’re considering dropping a PPO, negotiating your fees, or simply want to understand what your billing team should be watching for, this conversation will change how you look at your contracts.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How you can be in-network with a PPO you never directly contracted with
• Why the fee schedule you’re being paid from may not be the one you think
• What your UCR fees have to do with PPO reimbursement
• Why your billing team shouldn’t assume “that’s just what insurance paid”
• What your billing team should be watching for on every EOB
• What to consider before negotiating your PPO fees
• Why dropping a PPO is more complicated than it looks — and how to do it right
• What to look at before moving out-of-network

Want to know if you could be getting better reimbursement from your PPOs? Visit unitaspposolutions.com to review your contracts and understand your options. And if insurance billing, outstanding claims, or aging A/R are taking too much time, visit dentalbilling.com to see how eAssist Dental Solutions can help.

If you think your practice's value is something to worry about when you're ready to sell — this episode will change how you see your numbers today.

In this episode of the Dental Billing Academy Podcast, hosts Dr. Iris Han, DDS, and Jacquelyn Hurley are joined by Greg Auerbach, Managing Broker and leader of the largest single-company dental transitions team in the country, to connect two things most practice owners never link: how a practice bills and collects day to day, and what it's worth when it's time to transition.

Together, they break down why producing more isn't the same as being profitable, how neglected insurance aging and credit balances become six-figure problems at the closing table, and why the strongest practices start building their value five, ten, even fifteen years before they sell.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why strong collections — not just strong production — are the real signal of a valuable practice
• How a practice can produce $3 million and collect only half — and what that does to overhead and take-home
• Why aged A/R and credit balances can shrink a sale offer or derail bank financing entirely
• The front-desk habits that protect your take-home now and your sale price later
• How to divest insurances strategically — and why doing it overnight is the worst move you can make
• When to start preparing your practice value (hint: much sooner than you think)

This is a must-listen for practice owners at any stage — whether you're thinking about selling in the next few years or simply want a healthier, more valuable practice today.

Ready to strengthen your revenue cycle before it costs you at the closing table? Visit dentalbilling.com to learn how eAssist can help you tighten collections, get caught up on A/R, and start building real practice value now. To explore your practice's value or connect with a transition specialist, reach out to Greg Auerbach at [email protected] or visit henryscheindpt.com.

If you've ever looked at your practice management software and your bank account and thought "why don't these numbers match?"—this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Dental Billing Academy Podcast, hosts Jacquelyn Hurley and Dr. Iris Han, DDS, are joined by Julie Weathers, Dental Accounting Product Leader at eAssist Dental Solutions, to explore one of the most overlooked areas of dental practice finance: reconciliation and financial visibility. While most practices rely on a CPA for tax planning and high-level financials, there is often a hidden gap between what's happening inside the practice and what actually reaches the bank—and that gap can lead to confusion, missed revenue, and unnecessary stress.

Together, they break down why closing that gap requires more than year-end tax prep — and what a dedicated reconciliation process actually looks like in practice.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why a CPA alone isn't enough to protect your practice finances
• Where the gap between production, posting, and deposits typically forms
• How reconciliation creates clarity and reduces financial risk
• What true financial visibility looks like inside a dental practice
• How to build a system that ensures every dollar earned is tracked and collected

This is a must-listen for practice owners and office managers who want greater confidence in their numbers, less end-of-month stress, and a financial system that works as hard as they do.

Ready to find out where your numbers stand? Visit dentalbilling.com to learn how eAssist Dental Solutions can support your practice with reconciliation, bookkeeping, and financial clarity.

If your practice is collecting well from insurance but still struggling with cash flow, patient revenue may be the missing piece.

In this episode of the Dental Billing Academy Podcast, hosts Jacquelyn Hurley and Dr. Iris Han, DDS, are joined by Julie Weathers, Product Leader for Patient Billing and Dental Accounting Services at eAssist Dental Solutions, to explore why patient revenue has become one of the most important drivers of a dental practice's financial health—and why so many practices still lack the systems to manage it effectively.

Together, they examine the growing shift from insurance to patient responsibility, the consistency challenges practices face, and how a tech-enabled, human approach to patient billing can improve collections, reduce aging A/R, and strengthen the patient experience.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why patient revenue is now a critical part of the dental revenue cycle
• Where most practices lose money on the patient billing side
• How inconsistent follow-up leads to aging A/R and lost collections
• What a tech-enabled approach to patient billing actually looks like
• How to improve the patient financial experience without sacrificing collections

This is a must-listen for dentists, office managers, and billing teams who want stronger collections, healthier cash flow, and a revenue cycle that works on both sides of the ledger.

Ready to close the gap on patient revenue? Visit dentalbilling.com to learn how eAssist can support your practice with patient billing solutions built for consistency and results.

If you've ever submitted a crown or buildup claim thinking "we did everything right"—only to receive a denial or downcode—this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Dental Billing Academy Podcast, host Jacquelyn Hurley welcomes back clinician Dr. Iris Han, DDS, to break down what insurance companies are actually looking for when reviewing crown and buildup claims. Together, they explore how clinical excellence and billing success must work hand in hand—and how clear documentation can be the difference between getting paid quickly or fighting unnecessary denials.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why crown and buildup claims are commonly denied or downcoded
• The three key pieces of documentation insurance companies expect
• What pre-op X-rays must show—and why both PA and bitewings matter
• Why intraoral photos are critical (and when scanners work instead)
• What reviewers look for in clinical notes—and how missing details cost you

This is a must-listen for dentists, office managers, billers, and clinical teams who want fewer denials, faster payments, and more confidence in the chair.

Ready to stop chasing insurance? Visit dentalbilling.com to see how eAssist can support your practice with clean claims and stronger reimbursement outcomes.

Are PPO contracts creating more confusion than clarity for your practice?

In this episode of the Dental Billing Academy, Jacquelyn Hurley is joined by Dr. Iris Han of eAssist and Phylip Curtis of Unitas PPO Solutions to break down one of the most misunderstood areas of dental reimbursement: PPO participation.

Many dental practices participate with PPOs without fully understanding how their network agreements affect reimbursement, patient estimates, and collections. In this conversation, the team breaks down the differences between direct contracts, leased networks, and umbrella networks - and why those details matter more than most practices realize. 

You’ll learn how participation type affects reimbursement, why negotiating without the right information can backfire, and what practices can do to approach PPO optimization more strategically.

If your practice participates with PPOs and you want greater clarity around reimbursement, fee schedules, and network participation, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Unitas PPO Solutions

Learn more about PPO optimization, negotiations, and participation strategy for dental practices.

Check My PPO

See how your current PPO participation may be impacting reimbursement and collections.

eAssist Dental Solutions

Learn more about outsourced dental billing and revenue cycle management support.

Are dental practices unintentionally losing revenue because of coding and documentation gaps?

In this episode of the Dental Billing Academy Podcast, Jacquelyn Hurley is joined by Dr. Iris Han and Dr. Greg Grobmyer of Practice Booster to discuss the most common coding and documentation issues they see when reviewing dental practices across the country.

From underutilized CDT codes to missing clinical documentation and important 2026 CDT updates, this conversation explains why many practices are not capturing the reimbursement they deserve.

You’ll learn how stronger documentation, accurate coding, and staying current with CDT changes can help your practice reduce denials, improve collections, and get paid properly for the dentistry you’re already providing.

If you want to strengthen your revenue cycle without adding more patients, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Learn more about Practice Booster’s resources, consulting, and coding support:

https://www.dentalcoding.com

Find Dr. Greg’s Documentation with Confidence course and additional training resources:

https://www.dentalzing.com

Learn more about outsourced dental billing and claims management support:

https://www.dentalbilling.com

SRP denials continue to challenge dental teams and can slow reimbursement when documentation is unclear. In this episode, cohosts Jacquelyn Hurley and Dr. Iris Han share practical strategies to help practices strengthen periodontal documentation, improve claim clarity, and support more predictable billing outcomes.

In this episode, you will learn

• How documentation and diagnostic detail influence SRP claim approval
• What insurers expect for procedures such as D4341, D4342, and D4346
• How clinical and administrative teams can work together to reduce denials

Visit DentalBilling.com for tools and education to help strengthen your billing processes.

Disclaimer

Insurance administration and dental billing recommendations presented here represent the opinions of the presenters and are for informational purposes only. You are responsible for your own use of CDT Codes, insurance administration, and dental billing. For the latest CDT codes and official interpretations, contact the American Dental Association or visit ADA.org.

Welcome to the Dental Billing Academy’s "What's the 411" podcast. "What's the 411" refers to the 90s phrase, meaning "What's the latest information?" In this podcast, you can expect to hear discussions on various topics related to dentistry such as frequently asked questions from our support call center, worst claim stories, and highlights on the latest dental coding and billing updates. Our aim is to provide dental professionals and enthusiasts with relevant, up-to-date information to help them stay informed and improve their knowledge in the field. So… What’s the 411?

In Episode 1, Fran demystifies this complex document, the Explanation of Benefits summary, with the basics to help minimize errors and maximize claim reimbursement.

To learn more about eAssist Dental Solutions, please visit dentalbilling.com.