What Agencies Get Wrong About Third-Party Billing (and What It Really Means)

If you’ve ever said, “We thought about outsourcing, but…” 
You’re not alone. 

There are a lot of assumptions about what third-party billing looks like in home care. Some agencies picture it as giving up control. Others think it’s only for large organizations. And nearly everyone worries it will be too expensive to be worth it. 

But most of the time, those assumptions are off base. 

Let’s break down the most common myths and explain what working with the right billing partner actually looks like. 

Myth 1: “I’ll lose visibility into what’s happening.” 

This is probably the most common hesitation. And it's understandable. Billing is personal. It ties directly to your cash flow, your team’s time, and your clients' care. Letting someone else manage it can feel risky. 

But here’s what’s actually true: 

A good third-party billing team works inside your existing systems. You still log into the same portals. You still see every claim. You still get reports. The difference is, you are no longer the one pushing every button and fixing every error. 

You stay informed. You just stop doing it all yourself. 

Myth 2: “They won’t understand our systems or payers.” 

Every agency has its own setup. Your state, your EVV platform, your MCOs—it all adds up. So it makes sense to wonder if someone from the outside could manage that level of detail. 

But this is what billing teams do, all day, every day. They live in Medicaid portals, EVV logs, credentialing databases, and payer dashboards. Most of them know the quirks of your system better than someone who just learned it a few weeks ago. 

Even better, they’ve seen these same issues across dozens of agencies. That experience helps them catch and solve problems faster, because they’ve already worked through them before. 

Myth 3: “It’s too expensive.” 

It’s easy to see billing support as another line item, but here’s what it really is: a smarter way to spend your resources. 

Ask yourself: 

• How many hours per week is your staff spending on billing issues? 

• How much revenue is tied up in unworked denials? 

• What does one credentialing error or late claim cost you? 

Third-party billing often saves money by: 

• Getting claims right the first time 

• Reducing the need for rework and appeals 

• Speeding up cash flow 

• Freeing up internal staff to focus on higher-value work 

It’s not about spending more. It’s about improving how billing works overall. 

So What Does It Actually Look Like? 

Third-party billing isn’t a mystery. It’s a support model that plugs into your existing operations. 

You’ll still: 

• Use your current systems 

• Review activity and reporting as you normally do 

• Work with a team that keeps you updated and in the loop 

• Ask questions and get answers from someone who knows your account 

• Keep control of how your agency runs, while someone else manages the day-to-day billing work 

This is not a hands-off situation. It’s hands-on help, built around your existing workflow. 

A More Collaborative Way to Handle Billing 

The best billing teams don’t work in a silo. They collaborate with your agency. You still make the decisions. You still see the outcomes. But now, you’re backed by a team that does this every day and knows how to spot what others might miss. 

If your system evolves or your needs change, they adjust with you. There’s no overhaul, no hidden catch… just ongoing support where you need it most. 

Third-party billing isn’t about losing control. It’s about gaining time, trust, and better results. 

When you stop carrying the full weight alone, your whole agency benefits. 

Learn more: CareTime - Third Party Billing