As the holiday season approaches and clinics across the U.S. prepare for a quieter period, one thing remains constant: medical billing doesn’t take a break. Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers continue processing claims, deadlines stay in place, and unresolved billing issues quietly roll into the new year, often resulting in lost revenue for practices.
While many providers view December as a time to slow down, it’s actually one of the most crucial months to review financial performance, clean up accounts receivable (AR), and set up your billing operations for a smooth and profitable start to the New Year.
Why December is a Critical Billing Month
As we approach the holiday season, it’s easy for medical practices to get caught up in the busy patient schedules and upcoming holiday closures. However, December can be the most critical month for medical billing and revenue collection.
1. AR Backlog and Unresolved Claims
Unresolved claims and unpaid AR can quickly carry over into the new year, costing up to 30% of annual revenue. December is the final opportunity to address these before they become a permanent loss.
2. Increased Denial Rates
With staff taking time off, coding errors and eligibility issues can slip through the cracks, leading to more denials, especially from Medicare and Medicaid. These programs don’t extend deadlines during the holidays, making it essential to stay on top of claims.
3. Medicare & Medicaid Don’t Wait
Medicare and Medicaid operate through the holidays with strict deadlines. Missed or delayed claims can impact crucial reimbursements and affect your year-end financials.
4. Staff Shortages
With staff on vacation, your billing department may be short-handed, slowing down claim processing, eligibility checks, and credentialing, leading to payment delays and unresolved issues.
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Year-End Challenges
Additional risks include:
- AR aging past the timely filing limits
- Medicare/Medicaid compliance issues
- Credentialing lapses
- Denials left unappealed
Medical practices can lose 5-10% of annual revenue due to unresolved AR and preventable denials. December is your last chance to recover that revenue before it becomes a write-off.
Common Year-End Medical Billing Mistakes to Avoid
As the year ends, practices face billing challenges that can impact revenue collection. Here are the key mistakes to avoid:
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Unworked Accounts Receivable (AR)
If your AR isn’t being actively managed, it will accumulate throughout the holidays, and you risk pushing payments well into the new year. AR clean-up is essential to ensure no money is left on the table.
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Ignoring Denial Trends
Denial rates rise during the holidays. Watch for common denial codes (CO-50, CO-97, CO-197) and address staffing gaps to prevent rushed submissions.
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Eligibility Errors
Holiday scheduling changes can lead to eligibility errors, especially with annual Medicaid renewals. Always verify patient info before submitting claims.
- Overlooking Credentialing & Enrollment Gaps
Staff credentialing gaps or incomplete verifications can hold up claims, delaying your payments. Medicare and Medicaid have strict credentialing requirements, and failing to comply can result in payment rejections or delayed reimbursements.
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Coding Issues
Accurate medical coding is crucial to avoid underpayments or claim rejections. However, the coding landscape for complex procedures, especially in specialties like Orthopedics, Behavioral Health, or Urgent Care, often changes at the year-end, leading to confusion or mistakes. Misapplication of codes can cause financial setbacks.
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Underpayments
Unnoticed underpayments leave money on the table. Regularly review payments and follow up on discrepancies to recover lost revenue.
Addressing these issues now ensures your practice starts the new year with smoother billing and better financial health.
Your Year-End Medical Billing Checklist: What to Do Before December 31st
Before closing the year, practices should complete a focused billing review to protect revenue and compliance.
✔ Accounts Receivable Cleanup
- Review AR aging (30/60/90/120+ days)
- Prioritize high-dollar Medicare and Medicaid claims
- Escalate payer follow-ups before timely filing expires
✔ Denial Trend Analysis
- Identify top denial reasons by payer
- Separate clinical vs. administrative denials
- Appeal recoverable claims before year-end cutoffs
✔ Eligibility & Insurance Verification Review
- Confirm coverage for rescheduled or delayed visits
- Check Medicaid renewals and plan changes
- Address COB and demographic errors
✔ Medicare & Medicaid Compliance Check
- Validate documentation supports billed services
- Review E/M leveling and modifier usage
- Confirm adherence to CMS billing guidelines
✔ Credentialing & Enrollment Status
- Verify CAQH, PECOS, and payer enrollments
- Check revalidation dates
- Ensure EFT/ERA setups are active and accurate
Impact of Year-End Billing on Different Specialties
Every medical specialty has its unique challenges when it comes to year-end billing. Let’s take a look at how CodeCure can help specific specialties:
Primary Care
- Primary care providers face increased patient volume and administrative burdens during the holidays, making billing errors more likely. By outsourcing to CodeCure, these practices can streamline Medicare billing and ensure timely reimbursements.
Behavioral Health & ABA
- Billing for ABA therapy and behavioral health services often involves complex coding for both services and insurance coverage. CodeCure RCM’s experts ensure precise coding and timely payments, even in busy periods.
Wound Care
- Wound care providers often face the challenges of proper documentation and coding for specialized treatments. CodeCure’s billing team ensures accurate CPT/ICD coding, so providers aren’t leaving money on the table.
Urgent Care & Specialty Clinics
- Urgent care centers and specialty clinics have high patient volumes and diverse billing codes. With CodeCure, practices can ensure fast payments and eliminate the complexity of insurance verification and credentialing.
Why Outsourcing Medical Billing Makes Sense During the Holidays
Holiday staffing shortages are one of the biggest threats to clean claims and timely payments. Outsourcing provides continuity when internal teams are stretched thin.
With CodeCure, practices gain:
- End-to-end billing coverage without interruptions
- Dedicated AR and denial follow-ups during holidays
- Medicare and Medicaid compliance oversight
- Credentialing and enrollment support
- Predictable cash flow heading into the new year
Instead of playing catch-up in January, practices can enter 2026 with cleaner AR and stronger financial visibility.
Preparing Your Practice for a Stronger Start in the New Year
December is more than a closing month; it’s a planning opportunity. Practices that address billing issues now typically see:
- Faster January reimbursements
- Fewer carryover denials
- Reduced AR days
- Improved payer performance metrics
A proactive year-end billing review sets the foundation for long-term revenue stability.
Limited-Time Holiday Offer: Save Big on CodeCure’ Billing ServicesThis Holiday Season, We’re Offering You an Exclusive Discount to End the Year on a High Note!
As a special holiday gesture, CodeCure is offering 10% off all our medical billing and coding services for practices that sign up before December 31st. This is your chance to get expert AR management, denial management, Medicare & Medicaid billing, and credentialing support at an unbeatable price!
How Does the Offer Work?
- 10% Off your first 3 months of service when you sign up before December 31st.
- Free Audit to assess your current revenue cycle and identify areas for improvement.
- No Setup Fees – start your billing process immediately without any upfront costs.
- Flexible, Scalable Solutions tailored to your practice size and specialty.
How to Claim Your Discount
Simply schedule a free consultation or audit with us, and we’ll apply your 10% off to your first 3 months of service. Hurry, this offer ends soon!
Claim Your Offer Now!
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Don’t let billing issues carry over into the new year. Start fresh with CodeCure, the partner you can rely on to streamline your revenue cycle and maximize your practice’s profitability.
