Raven Health recently hosted a webinar titled ‘Making Compliance Your Best Friend.’ In this session, Tim Crilly, BCBA, chats with Rebecca Womack, BCBA, on the crucial topic of compliance in ABA therapy. Womack, President and CEO of Raw Consulting, shared invaluable insights on how new and growing ABA practices can navigate the often daunting world of compliance. Key Takeaways: Proactive Compliance Strategies Womack emphasizes that compliance isn’t just about following rules – it’s about safeguarding the practice and ensuring the highest standards of care for clients. She discusses common pitfalls that ABA providers face, such as misunderstandings about CPT codes and the importance of accurate documentation. “Most people don’t realize they’re making mistakes until it’s too late,” Womack noted, highlighting the necessity of proactive compliance measures. Building a Robust Compliance Program Womack also stresses the importance of a robust compliance program, even for smaller practices, to prevent costly mistakes and maintain strong relationships with payers. “Assuming you’re compliant without double-checking can lead to significant business and clinical implications,” Womack warned. Final Thoughts To dive deeper into these insights and learn practical tips for implementing effective compliance strategies in your own practice, it is highly recommended to watch the full interview. Womack’s expertise can help ensure that your practice is not only compliant but also positioned for long-term success. Interested in learning more? Watch the free, full webinar below: Click here to watch the webinar!
In this Raven Health webinar, Tim Crilly sat down with Matt Zabolotny, founder and managing principal at exydoc, to discuss effective strategies for contracting and credentialing in ABA practices. Credentialing can be daunting, especially for new practice owners, and Matt provided invaluable tips for navigating this process smoothly.
Key Takeaways: Credentialing & Contracting Matt emphasized the importance of identifying the largest insurers in your state and starting with those networks. Focus on becoming in-network with a handful of major payers to maximize revenue without overwhelming your billing processes. Matt also warned against relying solely on being out-of-network, as it can create financial complications for both your practice and your clients.
Stay Persistent Credentialing timelines vary from 30 to 120 days depending on the insurer, so Matt encouraged new business owners to start as early as possible. He stressed the importance of persistent follow-up – networks can open unexpectedly, and checking in frequently can pay off.
Mistakes to Avoid One of the most common mistakes Matt sees is failing to collect client financial responsibilities. For private insurance clients, it’s crucial to set up systems to track co-pays and deductibles – failing to do so can drastically impact your revenue.
Final Thoughts Credentialing is essential for getting paid, and missteps can lead to denied claims and lost revenue. For new ABA practice owners, Matt recommends getting help when needed and focusing on becoming in-network with key insurers to secure a stable financial footing.
In this Raven Health webinar, Tim Crilly sat down with Matt Zabolotny, founder and managing principal at exydoc, to discuss effective strategies for contracting and credentialing in ABA practices. Credentialing can be daunting, especially for new practice owners, and Matt provided invaluable tips for navigating this process smoothly.
Key Takeaways: Credentialing & Contracting Matt emphasized the importance of identifying the largest insurers in your state and starting with those networks. Focus on becoming in-network with a handful of major payers to maximize revenue without overwhelming your billing processes. Matt also warned against relying solely on being out-of-network, as it can create financial complications for both your practice and your clients.
Stay Persistent Credentialing timelines vary from 30 to 120 days depending on the insurer, so Matt encouraged new business owners to start as early as possible. He stressed the importance of persistent follow-up – networks can open unexpectedly, and checking in frequently can pay off.
Mistakes to Avoid One of the most common mistakes Matt sees is failing to collect client financial responsibilities. For private insurance clients, it’s crucial to set up systems to track co-pays and deductibles – failing to do so can drastically impact your revenue.
Final Thoughts Credentialing is essential for getting paid, and missteps can lead to denied claims and lost revenue. For new ABA practice owners, Matt recommends getting help when needed and focusing on becoming in-network with key insurers to secure a stable financial footing.
In the latest Raven Health webinar, Tim Crilly sat down with consultant Ivy Zwicker, who shared her insights on how ABA practice owners can successfully grow their teams while ensuring financial health. With over a decade of experience in the ABA industry, Ivy’s expertise helps businesses navigate the challenges of sustainable growth.
Key Takeaways: Financial Health & Growth Ivy introduced the concept of ‘No Margin, No Mission,’ emphasizing the importance of maintaining financial stability to keep the mission of helping families alive. While passion drives ABA practices, the financial component ensures longevity. Ivy recommended performing a market analysis when expanding into new areas, ensuring that there is not only client demand, but also enough RBTs and BCBAs to support your services.
Understanding Rates & Caseload Management Ivy highlighted the importance of knowing payer rates and managing caseload metrics. Understanding your reimbursement rates—especially for core services like 97153 and 97155 – is critical to sustaining a healthy business. Additionally, Ivy discussed the need for tracking growth carefully to avoid overstaffing, which could lead to financial strain.
Data-Driven Decisions for Growth Ivy stressed the importance of tracking metrics like authorization utilization and average billable hours. She explained how maintaining data dashboards allows ABA owners to make informed decisions about when to hire more staff and how to optimize their existing teams for both financial and operational success.
Balancing Growth and Client Needs It’s essential to balance client growth with workforce management. Ivy advised owners to carefully analyze their client demographics and ensure they are strategically filling gaps in their caseloads, particularly during underutilized hours, such as mornings and early afternoons.
Final Thoughts For ABA practice owners, Ivy’s advice centers around being realistic with your business growth, tracking the right data, and ensuring financial health from day one.
In a recent Raven Health webinar, Tim Crilly hosted John and Jill Jacobson of J2Jacobson Consulting to share essential advice for starting an ABA practice. Drawing from decades of experience, they offered valuable insights for professionals transitioning from employee to practice owner.
Key Considerations Before Starting The Jacobson’s emphasized the importance of evaluating your motivations. Jill warned that starting an ABA practice isn’t a quick escape from frustration, but a significant commitment. Financial preparedness is critical – Jill advised, “Don’t quit your day job,” stressing the importance of having a strong financial plan and consulting experts beyond ABA clinicians.
Strategic Startup Planning John and Jill stressed the importance of defining your service model – home-based, center-based, school-based, or hybrid – and understanding your market. John pointed out that different regions have varying demands for ABA services, so it’s vital to research and plan accordingly.
Financial Management & Growth A key takeaway was the need for a detailed financial budget and hiring plan. Understanding your break-even point and having a growth strategy in place is essential for long-term success. Jill highlighted the need for smart decisions, especially when scaling from home to center-based services.
Systems & Retention Implementing the right systems at the right time is crucial for managing a growing practice. John also emphasized the importance of staff retention, noting high turnover rates among RBTs. Creating a supportive environment where staff feel valued is key to sustaining your practice.
Final Thoughts For those considering starting their ABA practice, the Jacobsons highly encourage seeking expert advice and planning strategically for success. Interested in learning more? Watch the full, free webinar below: Click here to watch the webinar.
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