Looking Ahead to 2026
Wow… what a year it has been.
I don’t know about you, but I am more than ready to turn the page and move into 2026.
Each year, navigating insurance carriers seems to get more complex—and this past year was no exception. Even after doing this work for many years, there isn’t a week that goes by where I’m not learning something new. The pace of change has been relentless.
Across the practices we work with, we saw an overwhelming number of new network-sharing agreements roll out. Keeping up with which plans are tied to which networks—and under which fee schedules—has practically become a full-time job. How is your office managing all of these changes?
With this level of complexity, verifying patient benefits before the visit has never been more critical. Accurate benefit verification is the foundation of an accurate treatment plan. Without it, how can you be confident which fee schedule a specific plan will reimburse under?
And then there’s the EOB. Once claims are processed, it’s essential to review the allowable amounts carefully. Are you being paid what you expected based on your contract? Or did the carrier quietly process the claim under a lower fee schedule because it was “available”? These details matter—and they directly impact your bottom line.
Looking ahead, 2026 brings significant changes to the CDT code set. Several commonly used codes have been revised, deleted, and new codes have been added—particularly within the anesthesia section.
👉 Click here to review the 2026 CDT Code Updates
We strongly encourage you to review these updates and ensure your systems are fully aligned—from routing and treatment planning to insurance verification workflows and your practice management software.
If you need help navigating the ever-growing quagmire of insurance plans, network relationships, fee schedules, and compliance, please reach out. Sarah and I truly love this work, and we’re here to help you stay informed, organized, and confident as we head into 2026.
Warm regards,
Terri
