Many EMS directors and healthcare administrators believe in-house billing saves money. After all, why pay a percentage to an outside company when you can pay someone hourly?
The reality is more complex. Salaries are just one part of the equation. Technology, training, security, and missed revenue make in-house billing riskier and costlier than it appears.
The Full Cost of an In-House Biller
A salaried biller brings significant overhead:
- Payroll taxes, unemployment insurance
- Benefits (health, PTO, 401k match)
- Billing software and clearinghouse fees
- Training and certification renewal
And what happens when they take vacation, go on leave, or quit? Your revenue cycle grinds to a halt. At New England Medical Billing, your billing never stops—we have full coverage and cross-trained experts ready to step in.
The Revenue Gap: Collection Rates Matter
Collection rate is where many in-house departments fall short. Juggling phones, credentialing, and denials reduces billing efficiency.
Scenario:
- In-house collection rate: 80% on $1M in charges = $800,000
- Outsourced collection rate: 90% = $900,000
Even with a service fee, the added $100K in revenue makes outsourcing more profitable. Our team actively manages denials, tracks payer trends, and escalates delays—all of which drive stronger financial outcomes.
Staying Current with Compliance
The Massachusetts Ambulance Fee Schedule 2026, Medicare Cost Data Collection, and the No Surprises Act are changing how EMS is reimbursed. Falling behind on these updates leads to costly underbilling.
Do your internal staff have time to review updates, audit rates, and adjust your chargemaster? At NEMB, our systems and staff stay compliant and current.
Stay Ahead with Our Ambulance Billing Expertise
Cybersecurity and HIPAA Risk
In-house billing means managing sensitive PHI. You’re responsible for encryption, backups, firewalls, and breach prevention. One ransomware attack can paralyze your department.
We invest in enterprise-grade IT infrastructure that meets HIPAA and cybersecurity best practices. Let us carry the tech burden.
Reclaim Your Focus
Your job is managing crews, training, logistics, and growth—not insurance coding. With our Submit Insurance portal, you send the data, and we handle the rest.
Final Thoughts
In-house billing may appear cheaper, but it’s often the more expensive path once missed collections, overhead, and risk are factored in.
Curious about how much you’re leaving on the table? Contact us or call 888–771–6115. We’ll show you the real cost of your current setup and how outsourcing with NEMB can transform your revenue cycle.
