5 Metrics Every Cardiology Billing Company Tracks That Most Practices Ignore

Cardiology billing isn't just about sending claims and waiting for payment. It's about tracking the small details that affect your revenue. Most practices only look at total collections, but experienced billing companies go deeper. They monitor key metrics that show where money gets stuck, why claims are denied, and how to collect more. Now, it is time to look at the 5 important metrics that smart cardiology billing companies always track — but most practices ignore. These numbers reveal the real health of your revenue, and they can change how you handle billing in your cardiology clinic.

5 vital metrics that a professional cardiology billing company follows

First pass resolution rate

First Pass Resolution Rate (FPRR) shows the percentage of claims paid on the first try without needing rework. The reality is that every denied or delayed claim always causes your practice to spend more time, effort, and money to resolve issues. A low FPRR means your billing process has serious gaps. Most cardiology clinics ignore this number because they focus only on the final payment, not realizing how much is lost chasing denials. Expert billing companies watch FPRR closely.

Experts in a professional cardiology billing company always find out why claims fail on the first attempt. The reasons could be coding errors, missing info, or outdated rules. The billing experts immediately solve root issues promptly. An efficient team always aims for an FPRR of 90% or more, thus ensuring faster payments, fewer hassles, and better cash flow for your cardiology practice. Your staff members can always focus on patient care when a professional team handles your billing job.

Days in Accounts Receivable

Average Days in A/R shows how long it takes to get paid after sending a claim. The longer the money stays in accounts receivable, the weaker your cash flow becomes. It's like doing the work but waiting too long to see the payment. Many cardiology practices overlook this because they don't check A/R reports regularly and only notice when cash flow becomes a problem. A good billing company tracks A/R every day. They look at it by payer, procedure, and even by each cardiologist. Managing AR days allows you to follow up faster, prevent write-offs, and speed up payments. Ideally, your A/R should stay under 35 days for most payers to keep your revenue flowing smoothly and your practice financially healthy.

Denial rate

Denial rate is the total percentage of claims that are rejected by payers. A high denial rate often indicates more work, delayed payments, and lost income. Denials are often caused by bigger problems like poor documentation, coding mistakes, or missed eligibility checks. Many practices don't track denials or just resubmit claims without asking why they were denied. Billing companies handle this differently. They track every denial, sort them by reason — like missing prior auth, wrong CPT codes, or expired insurance — and fix the root problems. A good denial rate should stay below 5%. If it goes above 10%, it's a sign your billing process needs serious attention. Lower denial rates mean faster payments and better financial health for your practice.

Net collection rate

The exact percentage of allowed charges you actually collect after write-offs and adjustments is known as the Net Collection Rate.

A high NCR always means your billing is working well and a low NCR means you're losing money. Many practices ignore this and just look at gross collections, which can be misleading, especially with big payer adjustments. A billing company calculates NCR using actual allowed amounts, not billed charges. The professionals in a billing company also use this number to find revenue leaks and measure how well the billing team is performing. A strong NCR should be over 95% to ensure your practice is collecting what it's owed.

Charge lag days

Charge lag is the number of days between when a service is provided and when it's billed. The longer you wait to send the bill, the longer it takes to get paid. A big charge lag can slow down your entire revenue cycle. Many busy practices delay charge entry because of staff shortages or poor EHR systems. Billing companies keep a close watch on this. They aim for same-day or next-day billing and flag delays by provider or location. Keeping charge lag under 2 days helps speed up payments and reimbursements.

Cardiology billing isn't just about how many claims you send — it's about doing it right. If you're not tracking the right numbers, you're probably losing money without even knowing it. A specialized cardiology billing company can help you focus on key metrics, boost your collections, and let your team spend more time on patient care. Start asking questions like: What's your FPRR? How old is your A/R? Are you watching the charge lag? If you're not sure, it's a warning sign. In billing, what you don't track can quietly hurt your practice and your revenue.