“Nah, it's cool. Just submit it under the owner’s name for now.”

Famous last words. 💀

If you’ve ever heard that advice—or worse, given it—this episode is for you.

In this episode, Sara Baker and LaRae McMullen break down a rampant—and risky—practice happening in dental offices across the country: submitting claims under the wrong provider to “keep things moving.”

Whether you’re onboarding a new associate, purchasing a practice, or navigating out-of-network transitions, this conversation is for you.

We cover:

• The difference between credentialing and contracting (and why both matter)
• Why billing under another provider's information is considered fraud, even when “everyone does it”
• Real-life situations where claims were delayed, payments misrouted, and provider trust destroyed
• What goes wrong when legal teams and brokers skip over billing strategy during a sale
• How submitting under the wrong name can trigger audits, refunds, or even in-network removal

You’ll also learn:

✔️ When and how to start the credentialing process

✔️ Why providers must be credentialed—even to be out-of-network

✔️ What to put on your provider onboarding checklist

✔️ How to protect cash flow during ownership transitions without compromising compliance

If you’re thinking:

• “But it’s just temporary…”
• “We didn’t know they needed to be credentialed yet…”
• “The broker said it was fine…”…this episode will change the way you approach provider setup forever.

🎧 Listen on all major platforms

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEYxjX5ZVdo

📩 Contact us at [email protected]

🌐 More resources at sddentalsolutions.com

📥 Download our Provider Onboarding + Credentialing Checklist at thetruthdecaypodcast.com