Insurance Verification Overload? Full Breakdown vs. Targeted Approach

Why Full Breakdowns Aren’t Always Smart—Try Targeted Instead

Is your insurance verification process leaving you overworked and underpaid?

In this first of a two-part deep dive, Sara Baker and LaRae McMullen unpack one of the most overused, misunderstood, and inefficient processes in dental billing: the Exhaustive Full Breakdown. If your team is spending 30 minutes gathering insurance info before every new patient visit—only to get burned later—you’re not alone.

But there’s a smarter way: the Targeted Appointment Approach (TAA).

This episode covers:

• Why full breakdowns feel safe—but often waste time and payroll
• What actually goes into a targeted, effective verification process
• How to time your verification for accuracy and impact
• How to reduce unpaid balances by getting estimates right before the visit
• Why even preventive appointments deserve real verification

You’ll also hear:

• Common mistakes practices make with tools like Trojan or AI-based plan readers
• How to use your practice management software as a live, dynamic estimation engine
• What to do if your treatment plan is months old—and how to flag changes before the patient walks in

If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “WHY are we still writing off fluoride?”—this one’s for you.

Actionable tips, mindset shifts, and a better path forward for your front office team—all inside this episode.

Don’t miss Part 2, where we dig into how better verification builds long-term patient trust and compliance.

🎥 Watch full episodes on our YouTube channel → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obikq7h2Kpg

📥 Subscribe to The Truth Decay Podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss an episode.

📧 Got questions? Want us to cover something specific? Reach out to us at [email protected]

🌐 Learn more at sddentalsolutions.com