Two numbers every owner should know

In 2024, 11.81 % of all claims were denied on first pass last year, the highest rate in a decade. That means more rework, delayed reimbursements, and an increasing number of write-offs.

At the same time, practices now collect just 47.8 % of patient balances—less than half of what they’re owed. That translates to rising bad debt and growing pressure from climbing operating costs.

Add one more data point: 27 % of those denials start at check-in—registration and eligibility errors. It’s no surprise that 60 % of medical-group leaders say denials are still rising in 2025.

If your front desk staff is still photocopying cards and keying data by hand, you’re fighting this battle with paper shields.

The twin headaches

1. Eligibility “gotchas”

• Wrong payer ID?
  
  
• Inactive policy?
  
  
• Carve-outs hidden under a third-party administrator?
  

These slipups kick claims back weeks later, just as payroll is due.

2. Card-on-file gaps

A 2020 MGMA poll showed only one practice in three keeps a patient credit card on file. Without one, every coinsurance bill turns into phone-tag and postage fees—exactly why patient A/R balloons past 90 days.

Meet Ember Concierge

What changes on Day 1?

• Fewer phone calls: Staff stop chasing cards and coverage details.
  
  
• Cleaner claims: Eligibility errors scrubbed out before the patient is in an exam room.
  
  
• Predictable cashflow: Copays and coinsurance post automatically—no more 120-day A/R surprises.
  
  
• Happier patients: One quick scan, no clipboard marathon.
  
  

Try it in your own lobby

Denials and old A/R aren’t inevitable—they’re workflow problems. Replace the weakest 30 seconds of that workflow with Ember Concierge and watch the metrics move. Schedule a five-minute demo and see Ember Concierge in action—no IT ticket required.

Book your slot now, and start every visit with confidence.