What we do / Before the visitAUTOMATED CHECK ONLY

Coverage checked before the patient arrives

Software checks coverage before scheduled visits, and authorizations are tracked. Problems go to your front desk before the patient does. Your front desk still requests authorizations.

Coverage: automated check only. Authorizations: tracking only. See the full scope

Who does what

Who does what before the visit

Software

Software

  • Checks coverage before scheduled visits: active coverage, plan dates, copay, coinsurance, deductible and visit limits where the payer returns them.
  • Tracks visits used against visits approved and the dates authorizations and recertifications end, and warns before they run out.

Your billing team

Your billing team

  • Checks each claim against the authorization on file.
  • Does not call insurance companies to verify benefits. The check is electronic.

You

Your practice

  • Your front desk fixes insurance details, talks to the patient, collects copays and decides whether to see the patient.
  • Your front desk decides when an authorization is needed, then requests and submits it.
  • Your clinicians write plans of care and recertifications.
Client dashboardSample clinic · Physical therapy · 2 locations
SAMPLE DATAFictional clinic. Synthetic numbers.Updated Mon Sep 28, 6:00 pm

Needs you

Sample clinic

Sample view with synthetic data. The client dashboard is planned; this shows what it will track.

Now: 8 items; 9 visits held, $884.03

Showing 3 of 8: front desk
Needs you now, front desk
ItemWhoPatientWhat is neededWhyHeldDueStatus
1You: Front deskPt 2259, Commercial PPO A, PT 2A copy of the new insurance cardEligibility check before the Sep 23 visit: coverage ended Sep 22. No visit scheduled; please call the patient.3 visits (Sep 23, 25, 28), $282.64As soon as possible
Needs you
2You: Front deskPt 2186, Payer E, PT 1Payer approval for visits after the Sep 21 re-evaluationThe payer approves visits in blocks; visits 11 and 12 are held until it does.2 visits (Sep 23, 28), $238.42Before the Sep 30 visit
Needs you
3You: Front deskPt 2173, Commercial HMO C, PT 1Ask the plan for a retro authorization for 1 visitVisit 15 on Sep 24 is past the 14 authorized.1 visit, $63.08This week
Needs you

Not active in the sample.

Coming up (4 items)
ItemWhoPatientWhatBy
9You: PT 1Pt 2153, Medicare Part BRecertification: plan certified through Sep 18; visits resume Oct 1Oct 1
10You: PT 4Pt 2180, Medicare Part BRecertification: plan certified through Oct 2; visits Oct 6 and Oct 9Oct 5
11You: PT 3Pt 2166, Medicare Part BAbove $3,000 this year with KX on every line: make sure each note shows why skilled therapy is still neededNext visit, Oct 1
12You: Front deskPt 2294, Commercial HMO CRequest more visits: 2 of 8 used, 9 scheduled; runs out at visit 8Oct 16
FIG. 1Sample list of what only your practice can do. Synthetic data. Example: a fictional physical therapy clinic.See every view

What we check

What the automated check reads

The check reads what the insurance company returns electronically before a scheduled visit.

TABLE 1.What the automated check reads
FieldWhat it tells your front desk
Coverage activeWhether the plan on file covers the patient on the visit date.
Plan datesWhen the plan started, and when it ends if the insurance company reports an end date.
Copay, coinsurance and deductibleThe patient's share as the insurance company reports it, so your front desk can collect the copay at the visit.
Visit limitsVisits allowed and visits used this year, where the insurance company returns them.
  • An answer the payer leaves incomplete stays unknown, never zero.

What we track

What we track for each authorization

Your front desk requests authorizations. We count visits against each one, and your billing team checks each claim against it.

TABLE 2.What we track
TrackedWhy it matters
Visits approvedThe number of visits the authorization allows.
Visits usedVisits billed against the authorization so far.
Authorization end dateVisits after this date need a new authorization.
Recertification dateThe date a plan of care must be recertified, as in physical therapy.
  • Coverage problems go on your front desk's list before the visit, with the reason.
  • Your billing team looks at unclear answers and tells your front desk.
  • A coverage check is not a guarantee of payment.

What the rules say

Why coverage is checked before the visit

Deductibles shift what patients owe, and some plans ration visits or require approval first.

  • 34% of covered workers have a deductible of $2,000 or more for single coverage (2025).
    34%

    Source: KFF, 20251

  • Since 2026, Medicare Advantage plans must decide standard prior authorization requests within 7 calendar days.
    7 days

    Source: CMS, 2024-012

  • Example: physical therapyOriginal Medicare has no yearly visit limit for outpatient therapy and no prior authorization for it.
    No cap

    Source: Medicare.gov, read 2026-09-29; CMS, read 2026-09-2934

Questions

Questions about before the visit

Coverage problems go on your front desk's list before the visit, with the reason. Your front desk decides whether to see the patient, and can talk to them about coverage first.

A coverage check is not a guarantee of payment.

No. Original Medicare has no yearly visit limit for outpatient therapy and no prior authorization for it.34 Some Medicare Advantage and commercial plans set limits or require authorization, and those are tracked.

No. Your front desk requests them. We track visits used against visits approved and the dates authorizations and recertifications end, and warn your front desk before they run out.

No. An automated coverage check runs before scheduled visits. Coverage problems go on your front desk's list before the visit, with the reason. A coverage check is not a guarantee of payment.

Next question: who checks the codes before a claim goes out?

Notes

  1. 1.KFF, Employer Health Benefits Survey 2025, summary of findings, 2025 (survey).Back to text
  2. 2.CMS, Interoperability and Prior Authorization final rule (CMS-0057-F) fact sheet, 2024-01 (regulation).Back to text
  3. 3.Medicare.gov, Physical therapy services, read 2026-09-29 (government guidance).Back to text:12
  4. 4.CMS, Therapy Services, read 2026-09-29 (government guidance).Back to text:12