The Claim Game

About The Claim Game

The Claim Game podcast, hosted by Jeremy and Kathryn Zug, is designed to help healthcare providers navigate the complexities of revenue cycle management (RCM). Each episode aims to cut through confusion by breaking down complex billing processes and sharing real-world solutions. The podcast uses a "game board" metaphor to simplify the RCM landscape, offering strategies and practical tips to help practices "win" at revenue cycle management. Jeremy and Kathryn draw on their extensive experience to empower providers to take control of their revenue, turning claim denials into deposits and allowing them to focus more on patient care. The podcast covers key territories of billing, such as credentialing, patient registration, eligibility & benefits, payment posting, aging follow-up, and claim submission, with the ultimate goal of providing clarity in a confusing, frustrating, and outdated industry. jeremyzug.substack.com (https://jeremyzug.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Jeremy and Kathryn Zug

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Jul 2025

Latest episode

6 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

71 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Nov 2026

   Brian Valasek on Protecting Private Practice from Insurance Challenges

   EPISODE SUMMARY Jeremy sits down with Brian Valasek, President of the Ohio Association for Counselors and Private Practice and owner of Beyond Your Valley, to discuss what it takes to build a sustainable private practice. Brian shares his therapist-first approach, the importance of specialization, and how practice owners can evaluate payer relationships. They also explore reimbursement challenges, client experience, insurance vs. private pay, and what the future could hold for insurance-based therapy. KEYWORDS private practice, group practice, mental health, therapist burnout, insurance reimbursement, private pay therapy, insurance billing, payer contracts, practice management, therapist specialization, client experience TAKEAWAYS Take care of your therapists. A therapist-first culture can help clinicians thrive long term while creating a better experience for clients. Specialization creates clarity. Helping therapists find their niche can strengthen their clinical work and make it easier for clients to find the right provider. Know what a session actually costs. Reimbursement alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Practice owners need to understand payroll, taxes, overhead, administrative work, and other costs when evaluating payer contracts. Client experience matters. Fast responses, clear expectations, and thoughtful therapist matching can make a meaningful difference throughout the client journey. Insurance participation is a business decision. Practice owners have to weigh reimbursement, administrative complexity, access, and sustainability when deciding which payer relationships make sense. The insurance vs. private pay conversation is evolving. Rising healthcare costs, administrative burden, and reimbursement challenges are raising bigger questions about the future of insurance-based therapy. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Brian Valasek and His Roles 05:18 Building a Therapist-First Private Practice 13:48 What It Takes to Build a Sustainable Private Practice 29:50 Insurance vs. Private Pay: The Future of Therapy 38:28 Connect with Brian Valasek RESOURCES Today Sponsors: practicesol.com (http://www.practicesol.com/) Visit beyondyourvalley.com (http://beyondyourvalley.com/) Visit OACPP.com (http://oacpp.com/) Learn More About The Claim Game: Visit (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.practicesol.com/podcast)practicesol.com/podcast (http://practicesol.com/podcast) The Hourglass Learning Hub: Dive deeper into RCM best practices and downloadable tools mentioned in this episode, like the various checklists and templates, by visiting (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.practicesol.com/learning-hub)The Hourglass Learning Hub (http://practicesol.com/hourglass). Our Blog: Explore years of educational articles on billing and practice management at (https://www.practicesol.com/blog)Practice Solutions Blog (http://practicesol.com/blog)

2. 

   2 Nov 2026

   How to Build a Billing System That Runs Without You

   EPISODE SUMMARY Are you spending more time answering billing questions than actually growing your practice? In this episode of The Claim Game, Jeremy Zug breaks down the hidden cost of being your team's go-to help desk and how it could be costing you an entire workday every week. Jeremy explores the risks of relying on one employee for billing knowledge, why documented workflows are essential for protecting your revenue cycle, and how a structured 30-day training program can turn existing administrative staff into confident, capable billers. Plus, discover how reimbursement rate comparisons can uncover missed revenue opportunities and help practices negotiate smarter payer contracts. Learn how to build a stronger billing team, reduce costly interruptions, and reclaim your time to focus on growing your practice. KEYWORDS Revenue Cycle Management, Medical Billing Training, Biller Training, Practice Management, Billing Workflows, Insurance Claim Denials, Administrative Efficiency, Healthcare Billing, Practice Growth, Reimbursement Rates, Payer Contract Negotiation, Billing KPIs, Accounts Receivable, Practice Solutions TAKEAWAYS Being your team's help desk is costing you. Frequent billing interruptions can add up to 30 hours a month that could be spent growing your practice. Don't let billing knowledge walk out the door. Relying on one employee without documented processes creates a major risk to your revenue cycle. Standardized workflows protect your cash flow. Checklists, training resources, and clear procedures keep billing operations running smoothly through employee turnover. You can train your existing team. A structured 30-day training program can equip administrative staff with the skills to manage billing confidently. Training doesn't end after 30 days. Ongoing coaching and support help your billing team handle complex denials, payer questions, and unexpected challenges. Know what your market is paying. Comparing reimbursement rates with similar practices can reveal missed revenue and strengthen payer negotiations. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Hidden Cost of Being Your Team’s Help Desk 07:34 From Admin to Expert Biller in 30 Days 09:44 Know What Your Market Is Really Paying RESOURCES Today Sponsors: practicesol.com (http://practicesol.com/) Learn More About The Claim Game: Visit (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.practicesol.com/podcast)practicesol.com/podcast (http://practicesol.com/podcast)The Hourglass Learning Hub: Dive deeper into RCM best practices and downloadable tools mentioned in this episode, like the various checklists and templates, by visiting (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.practicesol.com/learning-hub)The Hourglass Learning Hub (http://practicesol.com/hourglass). Our Blog: Explore years of educational articles on billing and practice management at (https://www.practicesol.com/blog)Practice Solutions Blog (http://practicesol.com/blog) Book: For a comprehensive guide on navigating insurance, grab your copy of Insurance Billing Basics: Steps for Therapists to Successfully Take Insurance (https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=uNXNdPbOxS5D4TNWazsdh7XqorXE5axO2cJ83tU7Lgw)

3. 

   26 Oct 2026

   The $52.74 Billing Mistake Costing Your Practice Thousands

   EPISODE SUMMARY Every denied claim costs your practice more than delayed revenue. According to the 2026 Availity Abrasion Index, reworking a denied claim costs an average of $52.74—and those expenses add up quickly. In this episode, Jeremy Zug explains why many practices have a billing sequencing problem, not a billing problem. He breaks down the hidden costs of claim denials, common workflow mistakes, and how the six-stage Billing Blueprint can help reduce denials and improve revenue cycle management. KEYWORDS Claim denials, medical billing, revenue cycle management, clean claims, denial prevention, billing workflow, billing mistakes, claim submission, billing systems, group practice management TAKEAWAYS Every denied claim comes at a cost. Reworking a denied claim costs an average of $52.74, meaning just 10 denials per week can cost a practice over $27,000 annually. Your billing problem might actually be a sequencing problem. Inefficient workflows and inconsistent processes can create unnecessary denials and lost revenue. Preventable denials are system failures. Incorrect patient information, expired eligibility, and missing authorizations can often be caught before claims are submitted. Claim submission should come last. Following the six-stage revenue cycle management process helps ensure claims are clean and ready before submission. Consistency beats speed. A structured claim submission schedule and regular payment posting can help prevent costly billing errors. Better systems create room for growth. An organized billing process allows practice owners to spend less time fixing claims and more time growing their practices. CHAPTERS 00:00 The True Cost of Claim Denials in Your Practice 02:25 The Billing Sequence Mistake Costing Practices Thousands 06:18 How Denied Claims Cost Your Practice Thousands 07:44 Why Claim Submission Should Be the Last Step in Billing 09:18 Fix Your Billing Systems: Join the Free Webinar RESOURCES Today Sponsors: practicesol.com (http://practicesol.com/) Register for October 29th’s Webinar here (https://riverside.com/webinar/registration/eyJldmVudElkIjoiNmFhYzM1Nzk2ZjYzNTNmMDJlMmRiZGU3Iiwic2x1ZyI6ImplcmVteS16dWdzLXN0dWRpbyJ9) Learn More About The Claim Game: Visit (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.practicesol.com/podcast)practicesol.com/podcast (http://practicesol.com/podcast) The Hourglass Learning Hub: Dive deeper into RCM best practices and downloadable tools mentioned in this episode, like the various checklists and templates, by visiting (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.practicesol.com/learning-hub)The Hourglass Learning Hub (http://practicesol.com/hourglass). Our Blog: Explore years of educational articles on billing and practice management at (https://www.practicesol.com/blog)Practice Solutions Blog (http://practicesol.com/blog). Book: For a comprehensive guide on navigating insurance, grab your copy of Insurance Billing Basics: Steps for Therapists to Successfully Take Insurance (https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=uNXNdPbOxS5D4TNWazsdh7XqorXE5axO2cJ83tU7Lgw).

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact The Claim Game

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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