The Business Side of Podiatry Revenue: Make More Money without Working More Hours

By Gisele Saenger

There's a lot more to a healthy podiatry practice than simply treating patients. You have to build a strong team, design a smooth workflow, and keep the money coming in-which isn't always easy. In fact, your greatest roadblock to financial success could be your own billing department. They may, in fact, be leading you to financial ruin.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Stonebrook Publishing
• Release date: Sep 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781955711067

Book preview

Gisele and her team’s guidance and coaching through the billing and financial management side of my practice have been invaluable. It’s exciting to see these pearls of wisdom succinctly and clearly captured in a way that allows everyone to benefit. Any small medical practice can reduce its guesswork and potential expensive mistakes with the years of knowledge and advice summed up in this book.

—Dr. Farah Alani DPM, practice owner

As a twenty-year podiatrist and business owner, I have studied all aspects of podiatric billing and coding in order to maximize earnings. There are nuances and intricacies of podiatric billing that require a deep understanding and commitment to the specialty that Gisele and her team have mastered. Throughout my career, I have had unanswered questions and pondered the why of insurance denials, accounts receivable, and revenue cycle, which Gisele’s team have been able to answer. For podiatric-specific billing, a company that incorporates lifelong learning and customizes billing to our needs, I fully endorse Gisele.

—Dr. Craig H. Thomajan DPM, FACFAS, FAENS

Austin Foot and Ankle Specialists

"In her new book, The Business Side of Podiatry Revenue, Gisele Saenger gives the entrepreneurial podiatrist new hope with guidelines to increase profitability and sustain revenue. She uses basic business principles and applies them specifically to podiatry. This book should be a must-read for every podiatry student and graduating resident to open their eyes to the complex business of podiatry. It is not enough to be a great doctor, you have to follow Saenger’s advice and protocols to survive in the ever-changing world of private podiatry practice. Well done!"

—Dr. Marybeth Crane, retired podiatrist,

Author, Drop the S: Recovering from Superwoman Syndrome

Gisele Saenger knows billing, and I must say all of my clients are very happy with her and her team at Paradocs. In this book, Gisele tells all when it comes to podiatry billing and collecting. I can tell you there has never been a book this complete in helping podiatrists with their collections. It’s one thing to be a great doctor, but if you aren’t receiving every penny that is due to you, you will soon be out of business. If you’re a podiatrist, or any type of physician who owns your own business, you must get this book immediately.

—Dr. Peter A. Wishnie DPM

Author, The Podiatry Practice Business Solution

Director of Physician Programming, Top Practices

It’s no secret that podiatrists do not learn how to run a business in school. This book should be required reading for every graduating resident. In the book, Gisele Saenger breaks down the life cycle of a claim. She also covers how to handle things if they don’t go as expected.

I highly recommend that every podiatrist read The Business Side of Podiatry Revenue. It’s not only for beginners. You will find pearls that will help you keep more of your money and regain financial control of your practice.

—Andrew Schneider DPM

Vice President, American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management

The Business Side

of Podiatry Revenue

Make More Money without Working More Hours

Gisele Saenger

Stonebrook Publishing

Saint Louis, Missouri

A STONEBROOK PUBLISHING BOOK

Copyright ©2021 Gisele Saenger

This book was guided in development and

edited by Nancy L. Erickson, The Book Professor®

TheBookProfessor.com

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Stonebrook Publishing, a division of Stonebrook Enterprises, LLC, Saint Louis, Missouri. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission from the author.

Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021913444

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-955711-05-0

eBook ISBN: 978-1-955711-06-7

www.stonebrookpublishing.net

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Dedication

To Karina Saenger, my little girl. Pursue your beliefs and follow your passions and dreams with all your heart and soul!

And for my father, Helio Trindade, who became a victim of COVID-19 while I was writing this book. I love and miss you so much. Your integrity, generosity, and tenacity are a legacy that I carry with me.

Contents

DEDICATION

AUTHOR’S NOTE

INTRODUCTION

1. SHOW ME THE MONEY

2. IN-HOUSE OR OUTSOURCED BILLING?

3. MITIGATE DENIALS AND INCREASE PROFITABILITY

4. FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

5. DELAYED CLAIMS PROCESSING

6. INSURANCE OVERPAYMENT REQUEST

7. LOW INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT

8. OUT-OF-CONTROL PATIENT AR

9. OUT-OF-CONTROL INSURANCE AR

10. MAKING ENDS MEET

11. PREPARE FOR AN INSURANCE AUDIT

12. EARN OVER $1 MILLION

ABOUT PARADOCS MEDICAL REVENUE CENTER

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author’s Note

The stories in this book reflect the author’s recollection of events. Some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed to protect the privacy of those depicted. Dialogue has been recreated from memory.

Introduction

I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, where I completed my business bachelor’s degree while working as a business planner at the customer service division of a Brazilian telecom company. I monitored, prototyped, and mediated cross-divisions meetings, defined policies and protocols, and trained an operation of over seven hundred representatives. I worked on multiple IT projects, which made me want to pursue a master’s degree in information systems management, and the US was my destination.

In 2003, I was a little over twenty years old and single, which seemed to be the best moment for a significant change in life. New York City felt like home, and I felt like I was born to be here. While pursuing my master’s degree, my student immigration status limited my options for work. I wanted to get back into the workforce, so I researched the available opportunities. My classmate, and a great friend, Dee, had an idea.

My neighbor runs a small medical billing company in his basement. I told him about you, and he would like to meet you. What do you think?

Fantastic! When? I asked.

Although I’d never heard of such a business, I was thrilled to put my knowledge and experience into practice