Got questions? Send Ericka a Text!Profit doesn’t come from working harder or cramming more patients into the schedule. Real profit comes from running your billing department like a business within a business—and using it to lift EBITDA, create predictable cash flow, and make smarter decisions across the practice.We walk through a clear definition of EBITDA and why serious owners, lenders, and buyers use it to judge operational health. Then we connect the dots between daily billing work and big-picture results: coding accuracy as revenue capture, denial management as a cost-to-collect reducer, and AR velocity as the engine of cash strength. You’ll hear why sloppy billing erodes margins from both sides—less revenue in, higher expenses out—and how a systems-first approach flips that script with cleaner claims, faster payments, and fewer reworks.From there, we get tactical. We outline the metrics that matter—first-pass claim rate, average days in AR, denial rate by payer, write-off trends, appeal success—and how to use them to forecast collections, control overhead, and plan staffing without panic. We dig into the definition of an unreasonable denial and share a practical escalation and appeal playbook that speeds recovery while protecting productivity. Finally, we make the case for a living billing manual: documented workflows for claim submission, clearinghouse and payer receipt verification, EFT reconciliation, and standardized follow-up so the whole team moves in sync.If you’re ready to replace checklists with outcomes and turn billing into a true profit engine, this conversation lays out the path. Subscribe, share with a fellow office leader, and leave a quick review to help more practices build healthy, sustainable profitability. Would you like to set-up a billing consultation with Ericka?  She would love the opportunity to discuss your billing questions. This a no pressure, no fluff, conversation about what is going on in your billing department. And it is a gift to you for supporting the podcast!Schedule a call with Ericka:https://calendly.com/ericka-dentalbillingdoneright/30minDM Ericka on Instagram to join the wait list for Elevate Billing & Coding:@dental_billing_coach Call Jamie at Riverside Dental Ceramics: 949-875-2481Email Jamie for a new Medit Scanner: [email protected] Ericka:[email protected] Jen:[email protected] the Hygiene Billing and Coding Playbook Here:https://stan.store/hygieneunlockedEmail Ed:[email protected] a demo with MaxAssist to unlock scheduleing potential here:https://maxassist.com/book-a-demo-fortune-billing/Perio performance formula: (D4341+D4342+D4346+D4355+D4910)/(D4341+D4342+D4346+D4355+D4910+D1110)Delta Dental Locum Tenens Form:https://www1.deltad...