The Rising Cost of Labor Shortages in Gastroenterology Billing and Coding services

The medical billing and coding workforce in the United States is undergoing a critical shift. Nowadays, this is more evident than in gastroenterology - a specialty defined by complex procedures, extensive documentation, and ever-evolving payer rules.

As the demand for experienced billing professionals continues to outpace supply, there is no doubt that gastroenterology practices are grappling with an increasingly serious problem related to billing. Dealing with how to maintain an efficient, compliant, and profitable revenue cycle in the face of labor shortages, in fact, is the primary concern for most gastroenterologists. While the answer, for many, is increasingly pointing toward outsourcing as the most practical and sustainable way forward, there are still a few who rely on in-house gastroenterology billing coders and billers.

What is the top pressing Gastroenterology billing issue?

Today, one of the most pressing issues while billing for Gastroenterology, in fact, is the financial toll of delayed or denied claims. When experienced billers are unavailable, or when existing staff are overworked, it is inevitable that errors will creep in - often in the form of incomplete claims, incorrect codes, or missed authorization steps. For high-volume GI practices, this can result in a loss of thousands of dollars each and every single month for the practice. Furthermore, the inability to keep up with claims follow-up, appeals, and resubmissions causes accounts receivable (A/R) days to swell. Practices that used to maintain a healthy 30 – 45 - day A/R cycle now find themselves battling aging claims that stretch beyond 60 or 90 days.

Labor shortage in Gastroenterology billing

Labor shortages means rising overhead. Recruiting and retaining certified medical billers has become expensive and time-consuming. It is sad to see practices spend countless hours interviewing candidates, only to struggle with high turnover rates. As experienced coders move from one center to another, to larger institutions or remote positions offering more flexibility. Moreover, in-house billing teams, often stretched thin, experience burnout and hence decreased productivity. While ending up dealing with the vicious cycle of errors and inefficiencies, compliance further becomes a major risk. In gastroenterology, where payers are especially vigilant about documentation and necessity, even small slip-ups in coding or charge capture can lead to costly audits or penalties. Thus, with these mounting challenges, outsourcing your gastroenterology billing and coding has emerged not just as a cost-saving measure but as a strategic necessity for many gastroenterologists across the US. By partnering with a dedicated revenue cycle management (RCM) company like SunKnowledge, that can reduce your operational cost by 80% can really be a game changer.

Why is outsourcing Gastroenterology billing a better alternative?

Gastroenterology billing is among the most intricate domains in medical revenue management. The specialty involves an array of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as colonoscopies, endoscopies, biopsies, polypectomies, and advanced interventions, even like ERCPs and capsule endoscopies. While it is important to remember that each of these services requires detailed coding, careful modifier use, and strong documentation support. It is also true that even small mistakes in coding or claims submission can result in denials, delayed reimbursements, or compliance audits. In this environment, the shortage of certified and skilled billers is no minor inconvenience— in fact, it’s a direct threat to revenue stability.

One of the key benefits of outsourcing is speed. Unlike in-house teams limited by working hours and staff availability, outsourced billing partners often operate across time zones and offer extended or even 24/7 service. This accelerates charge posting, claims processing, and denial resolution, which in turn reduces A/R days and ensures a steadier cash flow. For practices already dealing with delayed payments due to payer delays, this operational speed is a lifeline.

Gastroenterology practices can gain immediate access to certified coders and billing specialists who understand the specific nuances of the specialty. These experts are trained to handle high-volume procedure coding, ensure accurate claim submissions, and stay up to date with changing payer guidelines—all without adding to the internal HR burden.

There are also significant cost savings to be realized. Outsourcing eliminates the need for salary expenses, employee benefits, workspace investment, and ongoing training costs. RCM partners, especially those with offshore operations, can undoubtedly deliver high-quality results at a fraction of the cost. Many gastroenterology providers have reported, like SunKnowledge, which guarantees further 99.9% accuracy and the highest productivity metrics.

Outsourcing today isn’t only about financial relief—it’s also about reclaiming focus. Gastroenterology is a demanding specialty, both clinically and administratively. When physicians and office staff are bogged down by billing headaches, it impacts not only practice performance but also patient satisfaction. With a capable outsourcing partner like SunKnowledge managing the back-end revenue cycle, GI providers can redirect their attention to clinical care, staff development, and long-term growth strategies. However, to choose the right outsourcing partner. While gastroenterology billing is not generic—it involves distinct procedural coding, frequent coordination with referring physicians, and deep familiarity with CMS policies, it becomes more important or relevant now than ever. A quality outsourcing firm should have demonstrable experience in the GI domain, offer real-time performance reporting, ensure HIPAA compliance, and maintain seamless integration with your electronic health record (EHR) and practice management systems like SunKnowledge does.