Dental medical billing involves the process of submitting dental procedures and services to medical insurance carriers instead of dental insurance carriers. This is done when the dental procedure is medically necessary due to a patient’s underlying medical condition or a traumatic injury.
For example, if a patient requires oral surgery due to a medical condition such as sleep apnea, dental medical billing may be appropriate. Similarly, if a patient has a traumatic dental injury that requires treatment beyond routine dental procedures, dental medical billing may be necessary.
The process of dental medical billing can be complex, as it requires knowledge of both dental and medical coding and billing practices. It is important to properly document and code the dental procedure or service and the underlying medical condition to ensure proper reimbursement from the medical insurance carrier.
There are companies and consultants that specialize in dental medical billing services to assist dental practices with the billing process. These services may include training and education on medical coding and billing practices, assistance with claim submission and follow-up, and consulting on documentation and compliance requirements.