Medical Billing for Dentistry is a Ladder NOT an Escalator!, Presented by: Laurie Owens
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Approved for 1 CEU, AADOM is an AGD PACE Approved Provider (can be used towards AADOM Designations)
Medical billing success takes knowledge, teamwork, and a willingness to climb one rung at a time. This practical course guides dental professionals through the steps needed to build a sustainable medical billing process, from understanding the patient’s condition to documentation, benefit verification, coding, prior authorization, and claim resolution.
Participants will explore strategies for identifying gaps in the billing process, improving communication between clinical and administrative teams, and setting realistic patient expectations. Through a step-by-step approach, this course provides practical guidance for strengthening billing workflows, establishing accountability, and navigating claims and payer challenges with greater confidence.
Course Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the documentation elements that support medical necessity, including patient symptoms, functional limitations, clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatment rationale.
- Outline the steps for preparing a medical claim, including verifying benefits, distinguishing medical necessity from coverage, selecting appropriate codes supported by documentation, and addressing prior authorization requirements.
- Develop a structured approach to claim follow-up and denial resolution by assigning team responsibilities, tracking outstanding requests, identifying denial reasons, and organizing information for corrections or appeals.
Laurie Owens
Director of Medical Billing for Dentistry
PPO Profits
Laurie Owens is a speaker, educator, and advocate for bridging the gap between dentistry and medicine. With 15 years of dental practice experience and eight years of coaching and teaching, she brings practical insight to helping dental teams understand medical billing and its role in supporting patient care.
As Director of Medical Billing for Dentistry at PPO Profits, Laurie helps practices recognize opportunities to access medical benefits for medically necessary treatment. Her work focuses on connecting the patient’s condition, clinical documentation, and appropriate coding to communicate the medical necessity of care.
Laurie has presented at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, Seattle Study Clubs, and numerous other professional meetings and educational programs. Her teaching combines real 1practice experience, approachable instruction, and actionable strategies that teams can bring back to their offices.
Having worn many hats in dental practice, Laurie understands the challenges teams face when introducing new systems. She makes complex billing concepts understandable and helps teams build the confidence to put them into practice. Her message is simple: “Teeth are dental; function is medical.” Through education and coaching, Laurie empowers practices to look beyond traditional dental benefits and help patients access the care they need.
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