Running a successful mental health practice takes dedication, skill, and compassion. Every day, you help clients overcome challenges, improve their well-being, and achieve their goals. But beyond the therapy room lies a less glamorous and often overwhelming reality: managing billing and insurance paperwork.
Many mental health providers consider doing their own billing as a way to save money. But what if that choice is actually costing you more than you think? In this post, we’ll break down the true cost of DIY mental health billing, exploring the time, money, and stress involved and how partnering with a specialist can change the game.
The Hidden Costs of Doing Your Own Billing
Billing in mental health involves much more than submitting invoices. It’s a multi-step process that includes:
- Verifying patient insurance benefits
- Accurately entering session information
- Submitting claims to insurance companies
- Following up on delayed or denied claims
- Handling appeals and resubmissions
- Posting payments and reconciling accounts
Each step requires time, expertise, and attention to detail. And while it may seem manageable at first, the hours spent on these tasks can add up quickly, time you could otherwise spend with clients or growing your practice.
Breaking Down the Math: What Does DIY Billing Really Cost?
To put this into perspective, let’s consider a typical provider who sees 80 patients per month with an average reimbursement of $85 per session. That’s approximately $6,800 in monthly revenue.
Time Spent on Billing
- New patients (16 per month):
Verifying insurance benefits for new patients takes about 15 minutes each.
Total: 16 x 15 minutes = 240 minutes - Ongoing patients (64 per month):
Processing claims for returning patients averages 8.75 minutes each.
Total: 64 x 8.75 minutes = 560 minutes - Total time spent:
240 + 560 = 800 minutes, or roughly 13 hours per month
The Opportunity Cost
Those 13 hours spent on billing are hours you are not seeing clients. At a session rate of $85, that equals:
13 hours x $85/hour = $1,105 of potential income lost each month.
Annually, this adds up to over $13,000 in lost revenue.
But Wait…
This calculation only covers the basic tasks of verifying benefits and submitting claims. It doesn’t include:
- Time on hold with insurance companies
- Correcting rejected claims
- Managing denials and filing appeals
- Re-submitting claims and updating patient records
In reality, the time and energy required for billing are often much higher, not to mention the stress and frustration it can cause.
How Outsourcing Billing to Anchor Point Billing Solutions Can Save You Money and Stress
Now that we understand the real cost of DIY billing, how does working with a specialist change the picture?
Anchor Point Billing Solutions charges only 9% of your monthly collections. On a monthly revenue of $6,800, that amounts to:
$6,800 x 0.09 = $612 per month.
Compared to the $1,105 lost in billable hours when doing billing yourself, outsourcing saves you nearly $500 per month, and more importantly, 13 hours of your time.
Beyond the Numbers: What You Gain by Partnering with Us
Outsourcing mental health billing means:
- More time to see clients — grow your practice and improve your work-life balance
- Fewer billing headaches — we handle verifications, claims, denials, and appeals efficiently
- Faster reimbursements — expert claim submissions reduce delays and rejections
- Peace of mind — transparent reporting and reliable support keep you informed and confident
Is DIY Billing Worth It?
When you factor in lost revenue, hours of administrative work, and added stress, doing your own billing often costs more than the fees paid to a professional billing service. Anchor Point Billing Solutions offers specialized expertise in mental health billing so you can focus on what matters most: your clients.
Ready to Reclaim Your Time and Increase Your Revenue?
If you’re tired of spending precious hours on mental health billing and want to maximize your practice’s financial health, contact Anchor Point Billing Solutions today. Let us handle the paperwork so you can focus on helping your clients thrive.