Billing Smarter, Not Harder with Patrick Dunn

Why Relationships Matter

Patrick explained how the revenue cycle in behavioral health has shifted over the past decade, with payer relationships playing a bigger role than ever. Today, payers are showing up at conferences more often and seeking genuine connections—not just numbers. Inviting representatives to visit your facility or meeting them in person can build trust and open communication. Sharing the human story behind your work often resonates more than presenting metrics alone. Strong relationships help providers anticipate payer needs, align services, and reduce friction in reimbursement. 

Key trends of evolutions in the industry mentioned include: 

• Shift from out-of-network to in-network relationships: Greater accountability and communication between providers and payers.

• Evolving payer requirements: With audits becoming more common, providers need to be proactive, auditing their own records and staying compliant.

• Partnership opportunities: By cultivating strong relationships with payers, organizations can anticipate needs, such as programs for young adults or specialized services, and align their offerings to meet demand. 

Data, Documentation, and Compliance

Clean, quantitative data is essential. While anecdotes are valuable, payers rely on well-documented outcomes and medical necessity to make approval and payment decisions. Providers should implement strong documentation systems and use technology, including AI, to audit charts, ensure compliance, and free clinicians to focus on patient care. AI isn’t just a timesaver—it’s a tool for screening, auditing, and improving workflow efficiency. 

Key practices include:  

• Regularly training staff on compliant documentation 
• Conducting internal audits proactively 
• Focusing on medical necessity documentation, not just clinical progress

Automation Enables Better Access to Treatment

Automation in revenue cycle management reduces errors, speeds payments, and streamlines processes. For example, a 40-day treatment chart can be audited in seconds using AI, compared to hours manually. This allows clinicians to spend more time with patients, improving outcomes and satisfaction. Patrick points out that automation isn’t about replacing people—it’s about enabling them to provide higher-level care.

Legislation, Advocacy, and Pay-to-Patient 

Issues like pay-to-patient policies and parity laws (such as California’s SB99) are still inconsistently enforced. Providers can improve accountability by tracking state and local laws and engaging in advocacy. Sharing de-identified data with lobbying organizations (like NAATP’s FoRSE) can strengthen efforts to enforce laws and ensure timely payment. Patrick notes that proactive involvement and collaboration are critical for driving systemic change.

Value-Based Care and Integrated Services

The behavioral health industry is moving toward “whole person” care, integrating behavioral and physical health. Coordinating care across specialties can be challenging but shows promise for improving long-term outcomes. Expanding outpatient, young adult, and telehealth services keeps patients engaged in care longer, reducing relapse and supporting recovery.

Billing Smarter to Build Stronger Care

Billing smarter isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about creating space for better care. By strengthening payer relationships, prioritizing compliance, embracing automation, and staying active in advocacy, behavioral health providers can position themselves for stability and growth while keeping patients at the heart of every decision. Patrick’s insights remind us that when business operations align with mission, organizations don’t just survive industry changes—they thrive.