When we need specialist help, we go to experts. The same should apply to your medical billing.
Running a private practice is hugely rewarding but it’s also demanding. Between seeing patients, managing their clinical pathways and keeping everything moving it is often the medical billing that can quickly become the part of the job that drains the most time and energy.
That’s where outsourcing to professionals can make a real difference.
At Civica Medical Billing and Collection (MBC), we’ve been supporting private consultants, groups and hospitals for more than 35 years. Today, we work with over 2,500 partners across the UK, covering every speciality. And the feedback we hear time and again is simple: “I wish I’d done this sooner.”
More time for patients
The biggest benefit of outsourcing isn’t financial, it’s time.
When you remove the burden of invoicing, chasing payments and dealing with insurer queries, you free up valuable time to focus on your patients. Free from the burden of financial admin and those awkward conversations about money you and your team can focus on the patient’s clinical journey and growing the practice.
Your secretary can respond more quickly to new enquiries. Patients experience a smoother, more professional service alongside excellent care.
Many of our clients tell us that once they step back from having to manage the billing, their practice revenue increases. This is often as result of being able to redirect their energy back into the key areas of patient care and service.
Billing is a business function, and it’s complex
As a consultant, you’re highly trained in your clinical field. But managing your own private practice also means running a business, and billing is one of the most technical parts of it.
There are more than 2,000 CCSD procedure codes and the schedule is updated monthly. Every insurer has its own pricing as well as coding rules for invoicing multiple procedures. Small errors can lead to delays, underpayments or rejected claims and in some cases derecognition.
This is a lot to stay on top of, especially when it’s not your core expertise.
As this is one of the primary roles of a medical billing company it is their responsibility to ensure that you stay up to date with coding changes, insurer rules and fees, helping to ensure you optimise your revenue and your billing remains compliant.
Improving cashflow and reducing bad debt
Cashflow is the lifeblood of any practice. But we regularly speak to consultants experiencing:
- Delays in sending invoices
- Difficulties reconciling payments
- Inconsistent chasing processes
- Limited visibility of what’s outstanding
- Restricted payment options for patients
Over time, these issues impact income, affect cashflow and create unnecessary stress.
At Civica MBC our approach is straightforward as our fees are based on the income received which means we share the same objectives. Through timely invoicing, proactive chasing and by offering a range of simple secure payment options we achieve an average bad debt rate of less than 0.5%. In some instances, this can even be as low as 0.18% [based on Civica MBC client data].
Meeting the needs of the modern private patient
Private patients expect convenience. They want to pay quickly and securely, often outside traditional working hours which means offering a range of payment solutions.
Outsourcing can be the easiest way to deliver these. At Civica MBC we offer:
- E-billing to insurers and patients
- 24/7 online and phone payments
- Text message reminders (with a 75% success rate within 14 days)
- Advanced self-pay collection tools
- Simple payment of multiple invoices
- Website payment links
These aren’t just “nice to have” features. They genuinely improve the patient experience and when it’s easier to pay, payments arrive sooner.
Removing staffing pressures
Recruiting and retaining experienced staff isn’t easy. Absence, staff turnover or increases in patient footfall can prove challenging and can often disrupt your finances.
Outsourcing gives you access to experiences staff when you need them.
At Civica MBC our service is built on a solid foundation of UK based Dedicated Account Management which means that you have MBC’s capacity on tap to support your growth.
As your practice grows, we scale with you. There’s no need to make difficult hiring decisions or worry about bottle necks and delays.
It’s expertise on tap, when you need it.
Clear visibility and better decision-making
One of the most common weaknesses we see in private practice is a lack of up-to-date financial insight. If you can’t clearly see what’s been billed, paid or chased, it’s difficult to plan confidently.
Our client dashboard provides transparent reporting across activity, payments and income, giving you the visibility you need to make informed decisions about your practice.
A partnership built properly
Outsourcing your billing is a big decision. It’s important to know who will be handling your accounts, where they’re based and how the service is delivered.
At Civica MBC, we place real emphasis on partnership. Our structured onboarding process supports you through the transition and beyond, ensuring continuity and confidence from day one.
After more than three decades in this sector, we understand that trust matters. Our role is to remove the burden of billing, so you spend less time on paperwork and more time with patients.
If you’re considering your next step, it might be worth asking: what could you do with that time back?
Discover more about Civica Medical Billing and Collection here.
