When it comes to anesthesia billing, there’s no room for guesswork. It’s not like regular medical billing. There are too many moving parts, time units, modifiers, concurrency, and medical direction rules. Getting it wrong can lead to underpayments, denials, or worse, compliance issues. So, finding the right anesthesia billing company is a big deal.
Over the years, there have been situations where bad billing partners caused delays, cash flow problems, and even audits. On the other hand, when the billing company knows what they’re doing, everything just runs smoother, collections improve, providers get paid on time, and there’s a lot less stress overall. Below are the key things that matter most when choosing an anesthesia billing company.
Key Factors When Choosing Anesthesia Billing Company
1. They Should Know Anesthesia Billing Inside and Out – Anesthesia billing is very specific. It’s not like billing for surgery or internal medicine. If a billing company doesn’t already work with anesthesia groups, it’s risky to try them out.They should know how to handle time-based billing, ASA codes, modifiers like AA, QX, QK, concurrency tracking, and different payer rules. If they don’t know how to deal with CRNA supervision or how to bill when anesthesiologists are directing more than one case, it’s going to be a problem. Always ask them if anesthesia is their main focus, or just one of many specialties they serve.
2. They Need to Be Solid on Compliance – This is another big one. The rules keep changing, especially with Medicare, surprise billing laws, and HIPAA. A good anesthesia billing company should be up to speed on all that. They should have someone who handles compliance. Regular internal audits should be happening. If they don’t do audits, or if they don’t know about MIPS reporting, or new CMS updates, that’s a red flag. You need to know your billing is being done right, especially in today’s environment.
3. They Should Be Focused on Getting You Paid the Right Way – Submitting claims is just step one. A good billing company should help make sure that every dollar that is due is collected. That means following up on denials, appealing low payments, and watching the numbers closely.Ask them what kind of reports they send. Things like net collection rate, denial rate, and aging AR reports. If they don’t track that stuff, they probably aren’t serious about results. Also, check if they’re doing any kind of data analysis to find missed revenue.
4. Their Tech Needs to Work Well with Yours – It’s not 2010 anymore. Billing systems should be modern. They should have scrubbing tools to catch errors, real-time eligibility checks, and a clean dashboard to track claims.Integration is another important thing. Can they connect with your EHR or anesthesia charting system? Some practices use Epic or Cerner, others use specialized systems like Plexus or iProcedures. If their system doesn’t talk to yours, it creates extra work and mistakes.And don’t forget about security. Any anesthesia billing company handling PHI should be HIPAA compliant and ideally have something like SOC 2 certification.
5. They Should Be Easy to Reach and Talk to – Communication makes or breaks the relationship. If a billing company disappears for days or sends unclear reports, that’s not going to work. You need a point person who knows your account and can answer questions without taking a week. Also, they should be meeting regularly to go over collections, denials, and anything else that needs fixing. No one wants to chase down a billing partner just to know what’s going on.
6. Credentialing Support Helps a Lot – Not all billing companies do credentialing, but it’s a big plus if they do. Getting providers enrolled with payers takes time and can delay payments if not done right.If they can handle new enrollments, revalidations, and track expiration dates, that saves a lot of headaches. Some anesthesia groups bring on locum providers or expand fast, so having help here is very useful.
7. They Should Understand the Way Your Group Works – Every anesthesia group runs a bit differently. Some are hospital-based, others are in surgery centers. Some use CRNAs, some don’t. The anesthesia billing company should be familiar with different setups, medical direction rules, staffing models, and even payer contracts in your state.They should know how to handle billing for multiple facilities, different contract terms, and how to work with the OR schedule to make sure everything gets billed correctly.
8. They Should Have Real References – Before signing up with any anesthesia billing company, ask for references from other groups they work with. If they’ve helped other practices increase collections or reduce AR, they should be able to show some numbers.Also, check how long their clients stay with them. A billing company that keeps losing clients may not be delivering results. If they’ve got long-term clients and good reviews, that’s a good sign.
9. Look at Their Fees, but Don’t Choose Based Only on Cost – Everyone wants to save money, but with billing, you usually get what you pay for. The cheapest option often misses revenue or cuts corners.Most billing companies charge a percentage of collections. Make sure you understand what’s included in that fee. Are they charging extra for credentialing, reports, or audits? Are they helping improve collections, or just submitting claims?Look at the whole picture, support, accuracy, and collections before making the final call.
10. They Should Be Able to Grow with Your Group – If your group is growing, adding new providers or taking on more facilities, you don’t want to outgrow your Anesthesia billing company. Make sure they can scale and handle more volume as things expand.Also, ask if they’re keeping up with new trends, like AI tools for billing, value-based care, or different payer models. You want someone who won’t fall behind in the next couple of years.
If your group is ready to work with an anesthesia billing company that speaks your language and understands the complexities of your specialty, AnnexMed is ready to step in. With a dedicated anesthesia billing team, proven workflows, and compliance-driven processes, we help streamline revenue, reduce errors, and keep everything moving smoothly. Let’s connect and see if we’re the right fit for your group.
