A/R Over 90 Days: How Healthcare Practices Can Address Aging Receivables

Accounts receivable represents revenue that a healthcare provider has earned but has not yet collected. While some outstanding balances are expected during normal billing cycles, accounts that remain unpaid beyond 90 days require increasing attention.

Aging A/R can develop for many reasons, including claim denials, incorrect insurance information, authorization problems, payer delays, missing documentation, underpayments, and insufficient follow-up. The longer an account remains unresolved, the more difficult it can become to determine what action is required.

The problem is not simply the total dollar value of aged accounts. Older A/R also ties up working capital and can consume significant staff time. If billing teams focus primarily on new claims while older balances continue accumulating, the practice may appear productive while a growing portion of its earned revenue remains uncollected.

Effective A/R management requires segmentation, prioritization, consistent follow-up, and an understanding of why accounts become aged in the first place. Practices need a strategy that distinguishes collectible balances from accounts requiring appeals, corrections, payer intervention, or patient communication.