EP 144 Dental Billing & Outsourcing with Michelle Repash
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
Release Date: 02/25/2025
Nobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Dentistry is changing fast and most practices are either adapting or falling behind. From rising costs and staffing challenges to new technology and shifting patient expectations, what used to work no longer guarantees success. In this episode, I brought back my friend Ted Osterer from Synergy for an honest conversation about what’s really happening inside dental practices today. What’s the impact of digital tools like scanners and AI? Is there a method to hiring and keeping quality staff? Why are some offices...
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More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: If your dental marketing still focuses only on getting found by Google, you’re already behind because today your real audience is not just patients. It’s AI deciding whether your dental practice deserves to be recommended at all. The dental marketing strategy shift right now is that visibility is no longer just about your website or traditional SEO but about how clearly your entire online presence tells a consistent story that AI can understand and trust. Search behavior is evolving fast, and while patients still use...
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More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Sometimes the most powerful management lessons come from honest conversations with dental professionals who are navigating the same challenges every day. I'm sharing two recent post-lecture conversations that revealed common leadership struggles. One attendee shared how exhausted she felt in her role but also felt guilty about even thinking of leaving because of perceived obligations to the dentist. That moment highlighted the difference between working from obligation and working from a true sense of calling. Obligation...
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More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: This episode with my friend Michelle Affanato breaks down what truly makes a great dental office manager, especially for those promoted from within or stepping into the role for the first time. We get honest about the realities of new manager energy ranging from being handed a title without training to suddenly managing former coworkers who now see you differently. Is this why so many managers feel overwhelmed early on? Maybe it's not because they are incapable but because expectations were never clearly defined. Michelle...
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More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Dental practices are being stretched thinner than ever, but the solution isn’t just hiring more people. It’s learning how to better use, train, and trust the team you already have. In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Singleton - assistant extraordinaire - to discuss how dental practices can adapt to staffing shortages by rethinking team roles and expanding responsibilities within proper scope of practice. We talked about expanded function dental assistants, smarter scheduling, access to care challenges, and...
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More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Does dental billing feel harder than it used to? You’re doing the same work, but claims stall, rules change, and nothing seems consistent anymore. My friend and Dental Revenue Network member Brooke Bird joins me to break down why that’s happening. The rules keep changing, knowledge is scattered, and practice management systems haven’t kept up all that well. Why does working on claims now feel like detective work? Different payer quirks and clearinghouse changes have quietly slowed cash flow. What are your options?...
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More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: What will dentistry really look like in 2026? Teresa Duncan and Kevin Henry cut through the noise to unpack the economic, workforce, insurance, and technology trends that will shape dental practices sooner than many expect. They take a data-driven look at trends such as persistent staffing shortages and rising labor costs to the growing role of AI. Compliance risk is increasing and practices face mounting profitability pressure. How can we refocus on business fundamentals while adapting to shifting patient...
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More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Most dental practices don’t struggle because of dentistry but because of what happens behind the scenes. Practice management is rarely taught even though it controls profitability, team morale, and long-term growth. My friend Olivia Smith shares insight and stories of her clients’ misses and wins. The realities of running a successful dental practice include understanding KPIs (without drowning in numbers) to leading teams with clarity and accountability (without losing your mind!). We touched on so many...
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More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Did you know that throwing away a simple "education letter" from an insurance company could be the first step toward an audit seven years later? Or that hiring a team member without checking the exclusion list could label your practice "radioactive" and cut you off from federal funding? Many dental practice owners don't realize that common habits, like billing under a selling doctor's name during a transition are actually considered False Claims fraud. In this episode, I sit down with dental-specific attorney Justin Withrow to reveal...
info_outlineNobody Told Me That! A Dental Podcast with Teresa Duncan
More management and insurance knowledge in my newsletter: Leading employees can feel like walking through a minefield. One wrong step and morale, productivity, or trust can explode. But great leaders are not born with the ability to navigate tough personalities. They learn the strategies, communication skills, and mindset shifts that turn conflict into constructive growth. My friends Ashley Bond and Lorie Streeter joined me to talk about leadership challenges new managers face every day. We tackled it all: resistant employees, navigating office politics, and owners who may not always...
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Dental billing companies can spot embezzlement and cash flow issues faster than your in-house team!
Dental billing expert Michelle Repash shares how she uncovered employee theft by noticing deleted insurance checks - a discovery that led to jail time for a trusted, long-term staff member. With 35 years of dental experience, Repash explains why traditional in-house billing is becoming so difficult due to increasing insurance complexities and team burnout.
She reveals key red flags to watch for, including staff resistance to billing help and shared passwords among team members. Most importantly, she emphasizes the critical need to separate billing duties - the person following up on claims should never be the same person posting payments.
Integrity Dental Billing's founder also shares insider tips for practices not ready to outsource: work rejections immediately, run AR reports consistently, and follow up on claims over 40 days old. For practices ready to make the switch, she offers a $500 first-month discount for podcast listeners. Mention this podcast to receive a $500 courtesy toward your first month!
Connect with Michelle
Website: Integrity Dental Billing
Facebook: The Dental Billing Collective
Linked In: Michelle (Integrity Dental Billing and Consulting LLC) Repash
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Medical Billing Made Easy! Dental Classroom Online: https://www.dentalclassroomonline.com/
Use ODYSSEY for a 10% courtesy
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I created Dental Revenue Network to foster collaboration and networking amongst RCM professionals. Billing company owners and billing professionals will have access to skill building sessions, current carrier news and insurance discussions beyond “what's the code?" Check it out - I hope you'll join! https://dentalrevenuenetwork.mn.co/
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Synergy Dental Partners offers lower prices for your dental supplies and services
https://www.odysseymgmt.com/synergy
NTMT listeners receive a 2 Month Free Trial + a 3rd Month if you buy anything from any vendor during the trial period. Also, new Darby customers receive a $200 Darby statement credit with a purchase.
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My insurance course Dental Insurance Design and Management is geared toward those who want to understand the how and why of insurance. As a loyal podcast listener, please use "NTMT" for a $75 courtesy toward your investment.
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Visit odysseymgmt.com to check out my book, webinars and courses.
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Don’t forget to check out my other podcast Chew on This - A Dental Podcast!
**If you like the show then I’d appreciate a good rating. Tell your friends. Even podcasters ask for referrals!**
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@odysseymgmt
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