Running a podiatry practice isn’t just about patient care — it’s about managing the financial side of the business too. For many podiatrists, keeping billing in-house seems like a cost-saving measure, but in reality, it can cost far more than it saves. Between staff training, technology fees, compliance risks, and missed reimbursements, the true cost of in-house billing often goes unnoticed.
In this article, we’ll break down what those hidden costs look like, why they matter, and how outsourcing with a specialized company like JARALL can actually help podiatrists improve revenue and efficiency without sacrificing control.
The Hidden Costs of In-House Billing
When podiatrists choose to handle billing internally, they take on more than just claim submissions. In-house billing requires investment in salaries, benefits, training, software, and compliance oversight — all of which add up quickly.
Here’s a closer look at what those expenses really include:
• **Staffing Costs:** A full-time biller can cost $45,000–$65,000 annually, not including benefits and PTO. For multi-provider offices, two or more billers may be necessary to handle claim volume.
• **Training and Turnover:** Medical billing regulations change constantly. Training your team to stay compliant can cost thousands each year — and when an experienced biller leaves, that expertise walks out the door.
• **Technology Fees:** Practice management software, clearinghouses, and electronic health record (EHR) integrations come with ongoing fees that can easily exceed $10,000 per year.
• **Denied and Missed Claims:** Even small errors — such as incorrect modifiers (Q7–Q9) or missing documentation — can lead to denials, delays, or underpayments. These hidden revenue leaks often go unnoticed for months.
• **Compliance Risks:** Inadequate documentation or coding errors can trigger audits or penalties. Without a specialized podiatry billing team, compliance gaps can quietly build over time.
The Revenue Impact of In-House Billing
Beyond the direct costs, in-house billing also affects cash flow and collections. According to industry data, practices managing billing internally experience 15–30% higher denial rates than those that outsource to specialists.
For podiatry practices, this is especially true. Payer rules, Q-modifiers, and podiatry-specific coverage requirements make claim management complex. Even experienced in-house billers often miss key details — resulting in underpayments, late filings, and lost revenue.
At JARALL, our audits frequently uncover tens of thousands in missed reimbursements from simple oversights: claims never submitted, incorrect codes for routine foot care, or mismatched ICD-10 and CPT combinations.
The Time Cost — and Opportunity Cost
Another overlooked factor is time. Managing billing in-house doesn’t just cost money — it takes focus away from patient care.
Practice owners often spend hours each week reviewing reports, following up on denials, and communicating with payers. That’s valuable time that could be spent growing the practice, enhancing patient experience, or implementing new treatments.
By outsourcing to a team like JARALL, podiatrists gain back that time while improving visibility and control through detailed reporting dashboards.
Why Outsourcing with JARALL Makes Financial Sense
Outsourcing medical billing isn’t just about convenience — it’s about efficiency and profitability. JARALL’s podiatry-focused billing services are designed to increase clean claim rates, reduce denials, and accelerate payments.
Our team handles everything from coding and modifier accuracy to claim follow-up and denial management. That means faster payments, fewer write-offs, and better compliance across the board.
Practices that partner with JARALL typically see:
• 25–40% reduction in denials
• Payments received 10–14 days sooner
• Up to 30% increase in overall collections
• 100% audit-ready documentation
When the financial side of your practice runs smoothly, you can focus entirely on patient care — not paperwork.
Final Thoughts
In-house billing may seem like a way to maintain control and save costs, but in most cases, it ends up doing the opposite. Between staffing expenses, errors, and lost revenue opportunities, the real cost can far exceed the price of outsourcing.
At JARALL Medical Management, we help podiatrists uncover and recover revenue that might otherwise slip through the cracks. Our specialized team ensures accurate coding, faster payments, and long-term financial stability for your practice.
🗓 Schedule a free podiatry billing consultation with JARALL today to discover how much your practice could be saving.