What can lead to a large accounts receivable balance?

• A. Timely verification of benefits
• B. Failure to verify insurance plan benefits, obtain authorization, or adequately file claims.
• C. Excessive upfront payments
• D. High patient satisfaction

Answer: (B)

Not verifying insurance benefits, obtaining necessary authorizations, or filing claims accurately and promptly is a primary driver of a growing accounts receivable. When benefits aren’t checked, you don’t know what the payer will cover, what the patient owes, or any plan-specific rules. That can lead to claim denials or reduced payments. If prior authorizations aren’t secured when required, the service may not be reimbursed at all or may trigger additional documentation requests, causing delays and resubmissions. Delayed or incorrect claim submissions extend the time to payment, keeping more of the bill in AR. In contrast, verifying benefits and obtaining authorization up front tends to speed or guarantee payment, while up-front payments or patient satisfaction alone don’t directly prevent AR growth.