Why A/R Cleanup Is Critical for Mental Health & Behavioral Health Practices

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Mental and behavioral health providers work tirelessly to support their patients, but behind the scenes, many practices face a growing challenge: aging accounts receivable (A/R). Because mental and behavioral health billing involves unique payer requirements, strict documentation rules, and specialized codes, a structured A/R Cleanup process is critical to protecting your revenue and ensuring timely reimbursement.



Unique A/R Challenges in Mental & Behavioral Health

Mental and behavioral health billing is more intricate than standard medical billing. Providers often encounter issues such as:

  • Coding and modifier errors for therapy, counseling, and medication management (e.g., 90791, 90834, 90837, 95/GT modifiers)

  • Missing documentation for treatment plans or progress notes

  • Medical necessity denials are common in mental & behavioral health

  • Authorization requirements for psychiatric and medication management services

  • Coverage gaps as mental & behavioral health patients frequently change plans

  • Session limits or frequency restrictions enforced by payers

As a result, unpaid mental & behavioral health claims build up in the 60–120+ day buckets, delaying payments and disrupting cash flow.

Why Mental & Behavioral Health A/R Cleanup Matters

A/R Cleanup helps mental & behavioral health practices:

  • Recover lost revenue from aged claims

  • Reduce write-offs and prevent timely filing losses

  • Improve billing compliance with mental & behavioral health payer requirements

  • Strengthen financial stability for solo therapists and group practices

  • Give providers more time to focus on patient care instead of chasing claims

Key Steps in a Mental & Behavioral Health A/R Cleanup

  1. Analyze aging reports specific to therapy, counseling, and psychiatric services.

  2. Correct mental & behavioral health coding issues and apply proper modifiers.

  3. Verify authorizations for medication management, IOP, therapy frequency limits, and telehealth.

  4. Appeal denials related to documentation, medical necessity, or incomplete notes.

  5. Follow up with payers on pending or underpaid mental & behavioral health claims.

  6. Monitor trends to prevent future mental & behavioral health A/R backlogs.

Expert A/R Cleanup for Mental & Behavioral Health Practices

At MedEase Practice Management Solutions, we specialize in helping mental & behavioral health providers - therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and group practices - reduce aged A/R, correct unpaid claims, and recover revenue faster. Our team understands the unique billing rules in mental & behavioral health, ensuring clean claims and timely payment.

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