Why Mental Health Billing Is a Nightmare—and How to End It for Good?

Teresa Johnson • April 18, 2025

Fact: Nearly 60% of mental health providers say that insurance billing and credentialing slow down their ability to focus on patient care. Between changing payer rules, claim rejections, and the exhausting credentialing process, providers often find themselves spending more time on admin work than therapy sessions. That’s where specialized mental health billing and credentialing services come in—and Billing Buddies is leading the charge.


Table of Contents

  1. Why Mental Health Billing Is So Complex
  2. What Credentialing Means (and Why It’s a Game-Changer)
  3. Benefits of Outsourcing to Billing Buddies
  4. Mental Health Billing vs. Medical Billing: What’s Different?
  5. Our Process: How Billing Buddies Simplifies It All
  6. Summary Table: What You Get with Billing Buddies
  7. Final Thoughts + How to Get Started


 
Why is Mental Health Billing So Complex?

Unlike general medical billing, mental health services involve unique codes, session limits, and pre-authorizations. Even small errors in time-based coding or failing to include proper documentation can lead to claim denials.

Key challenges include:

●      Frequent insurance changes

●      Limited sessions per year

●      Confusing modifiers and CPT codes

●      Authorization requirements

●      Varied payer-specific rules
 

What Credentialing Means (and why it’s a Game-Changer)?

Credentialing is the process of verifying a provider’s qualifications with insurance companies so they can join a payer network. It involves paperwork, follow-ups, and long wait times—anywhere from 60 to 180 days.

If you’re not credentialed, you can’t bill insurance. And if you’re improperly credentialed, delays and rejections will keep stacking up.


Benefits of Outsourcing to Billing Buddies

When you hand off your billing and credentialing tasks to Billing Buddies, you save hours weekly—and potentially thousands of dollars monthly.

Perks include:

●      Fewer claim denials

●      Faster reimbursement

●      Error-free submissions

●      Up-to-date compliance

●      Full credentialing support

●      More time for patient care

Mental Health Billing vs. Medical Billing: What’s Different?

Feature Mental Health Billing General Medical Billing
Session Duration Usually time-based (e.g., 90837) Often procedural-based
Prior Authorizations Frequently required Sometimes required
Maximum Visits Often capped annually Rarely limited
Progress Notes Requirement Always needed for reimbursement Depends on procedure and payer
Coding Complexity Moderate to High Varies by specialty

Our Process: How Billing Buddies Simplifies It All?

We’ve built a seamless 3-step system to handle it for you:

➢     Enrollment & Credentialing – We help you get credentialed or re-credentialed with your chosen payers.

➢     Clean Claims Submission – Our team reviews and submits claims that are clean and compliant.

➢     Follow-Up & Denial Management – We track claims, manage rejections, and fight for your reimbursements.

You get total transparency, detailed reports, and peace of mind.


Get Paid Faster, Stress Less

Mental health providers deserve better than paperwork and payment delays. With Billing Buddies, you get expert help in both billing and credentialing, so you can focus on what matters most—your clients. Whether you're starting out or scaling up, our team is here to simplify the financial side of your practice.


So, take the stress out of your practice—partner with Billing Buddies today.

Explore how we compare to other healthcare credentialing companies and experience the difference.

By Teresa Johnson August 29, 2025
Obstetrics and gynecology practices provide a wide range of essential healthcare services, but billing for these services is often more complicated than it looks. Unlike other specialties, Ob/Gyn billing involves bundled maternity care, preventive screenings, and complex surgical procedures, all of which have their own coding requirements. Even a small error in billing can delay payments, cause claim denials, and place unnecessary pressure on staff. Specialized Ob/Gyn billing solutions help practices reduce these risks by bringing structure, accuracy, and consistency into the financial side of care. Why Ob/Gyn Billing Requires Specialized Expertise? Ob/Gyn billing is not the same as general medical billing. It includes a wide range of services, from routine exams to complex surgical procedures, each with its own coding and payer rules. For example: Maternity care is billed globally, which means prenatal visits, delivery, and postpartum care are grouped into one billing cycle. Errors in bundling can cause significant payment delays. Preventive services such as Pap smears or annual screenings are covered differently by various insurers, making accuracy essential. Procedural care such as hysterectomies, infertility treatments, or laparoscopic surgeries requires in-depth coding knowledge to ensure proper reimbursement. Because Ob/Gyn practices balance preventive, surgical, and bundled maternity services, billing without specialized knowledge creates a high risk of underpayment and revenue leakage. The Importance of Accurate Coding in Women’s Health Services Coding is the foundation of every billing process. In Ob/Gyn practices, it requires particular care because services often overlap. For example, a provider might deliver a baby via C-section while also addressing a medical complication. If coding does not reflect the full scope of care, reimbursements will be incomplete. Accurate coding also ensures compliance. Insurance companies and government payers audit claims regularly, and incorrect coding can result in penalties or rejected claims. Practices that stay on top of CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS coding updates protect themselves from both financial loss and compliance risks. Reliable Ob/Gyn billing solutions give practices the confidence that services are coded correctly, every time. Common Insurance Reimbursement Obstacles Insurance reimbursement in Ob/Gyn practices often creates frustration. Payers may reject claims for contraceptive procedures, delay reimbursements for infertility treatments, or require extensive pre-authorization for certain diagnostics. Practices that do not have systems in place to track these claims can spend months appealing or resubmitting paperwork. Frequent obstacles include Claims denied for contraceptive procedures due to payer-specific restrictions Incorrect bundling of maternity services, leading to partial payments Denials for infertility or preventive screenings depending on coverage plans The growing need for pre-authorizations that delay claim submissions Inconsistent rules for coverage of diagnostic versus preventive care Without specialized support, providers often end up writing off these denials as losses. A strong Ob/Gyn billing solution focuses on proactive claim monitoring, payer communication, and timely appeals to ensure reimbursements are not lost in the shuffle. Benefits of Streamlined Billing Workflows A well-structured billing process saves time, reduces errors, and creates a steady revenue cycle. Practices that invest in automation and integrated billing software find that their claims are processed faster, with fewer rejections. Electronic health record (EHR) systems linked to billing platforms also make it easier to keep patient data accurate and claims consistent. The result is more than just financial efficiency. Streamlined workflows reduce the administrative burden on staff, leaving more room for patient interaction and quality care. They also build trust with patients, since billing becomes clearer and less prone to unexpected errors. In today’s healthcare environment, efficiency in billing is as important as clinical care in maintaining a successful practice. How Billing Buddies Brings Value to Ob/Gyn Practices? Billing Buddies provides Ob/Gyn billing solutions designed to address the exact needs of women’s health providers. Their team has extensive experience with global maternity billing, surgical coding, and preventive care claims, ensuring no detail is overlooked. Beyond coding, Billing Buddies also focuses on denial management, compliance monitoring, and revenue cycle reporting. Practices that partner with Billing Buddies gain both advanced technology and the support of experienced billing professionals who understand how to navigate payer requirements. This combination allows Ob/Gyn practices to protect revenue, reduce delays, and improve their overall financial health. Simplifying Billing for Ob/Gyn Practices with Billing Buddies Billing in obstetrics and gynecology is complex, but it does not have to hold back a practice. With accurate coding, efficient workflows, and the right support team, providers can avoid costly mistakes and keep reimbursements flowing steadily. Billing Buddies is committed to helping practices achieve this through expert solutions. Contact us today to learn more about our specialized Ob/Gyn insurance billing services and take control of your revenue cycle.
By Teresa Johnson August 29, 2025
Psychologists enter the field to help people manage their mental health, not to wrestle with administrative red tape. Yet one of the most significant hurdles a practice faces is credentialing. Without proper credentialing, providers are locked out of insurance networks, reimbursement gets delayed, and patient access is restricted. What should be a straightforward process often turns into a time-consuming challenge. This is where psychology credentialing solutions step in, offering structured support that helps practices focus on care instead of paperwork. Why Credentialing Matters for Psychologists? Credentialing is the process that confirms a provider’s qualifications and allows them to join insurance panels. For psychology practices, this process ensures three critical things: Patients with insurance can access care Practices receive timely and accurate reimbursements Providers establish trust and credibility with both patients and payers When credentialing is in place, psychologists expand their reach and position their practices for long-term success. The Common Barriers in the Credentialing Process While credentialing is essential, psychologists often find the process overwhelming. Insurers ask for large amounts of documentation, each with slightly different requirements. Errors, even minor ones, can push approvals back for months. Recredentialing adds another layer of stress, as providers must repeat the cycle every few years. These barriers are frustrating, especially for solo practitioners or small groups who lack dedicated administrative staff. Steps Involved in Credentialing At a glance, credentialing seems like a sequence of steps. In practice, each stage comes with its own challenges: Collecting documents such as licenses, degrees, malpractice insurance, and work history Completing payer-specific applications Submitting information for verification Responding to follow-ups or corrections Monitoring applications until final approval The steps themselves are clear, but managing them across several payers at once quickly becomes a drain on time and energy. How Credentialing Affects Practice Growth? The state of a provider’s credentialing has a direct impact on revenue and patient volume. A psychologist who is not credentialed will miss out on insured patients, limiting growth. Even worse, delayed or denied applications can lead to months without reimbursements. Conversely, a well-managed credentialing process allows practices to scale, build financial stability, and strengthen their reputation in the community. Professional Psychology Credentialing Solutions Outsourcing credentialing is not about giving up control — it is about gaining support. Credentialing specialists know payer requirements inside and out, which means fewer mistakes and faster turnaround. With professional help, psychologists benefit from: Accurate applications that reduce denials Systematic tracking of credentialing status Alerts for recredentialing deadlines Freedom to spend more time with patients instead of paperwork These solutions turn a draining task into a smooth process that supports practice growth. Billing Buddies and Their Mental Health Credentialing Services Billing Buddies offers tailored support for mental health professionals, including psychologists. Their mental health credentialing services cover the full scope of the process, from preparing documents to managing renewals. With their experience, providers no longer face endless back-and-forth with insurers. Instead, they gain peace of mind, compliance, and stronger financial stability. Billing Buddies ensures credentialing is handled correctly, so practices can keep their focus where it belongs, on patient care. Technology’s Role in Streamlining Credentialing Technology now complements human expertise in credentialing. Secure online systems store documents, track application progress, and send reminders before deadlines. These tools reduce manual errors and bring greater transparency. When paired with professional oversight, technology-driven credentialing becomes both faster and more reliable. Simplify Credentialing and Strengthen Your Psychology Practice Credentialing may feel like an obstacle, but with the right support it becomes the foundation of a thriving practice. Psychologists who partner with Billing Buddies gain efficient, accurate, and stress-free credentialing through dedicated mental health credentialing services . By removing administrative barriers, providers can expand patient access, protect revenue, and build lasting stability. Hence, reach out to Billing Buddies today to simplify credentialing and refocus on patient care.
Healthcare Billing
By Teresa Johnson June 27, 2025
Minnesota mental health billing doesn't have to be hard. Learn how Billing Buddies simplifies the process and boosts your revenue.