If insurance headaches are draining your energy and slowing your growth, you’re not alone—and today’s guest has the tools to help you take back control.

In this episode, I sit down with Colleen Huff, an industry veteran with over 30 years of hands-on experience in dental insurance, revenue cycle management, and practice consulting. From her early days at MetLife to managing multi-location practices and now educating thousands through speaking, writing, and online courses—Colleen knows what it takes to turn insurance chaos into clarity.

Her new book, A Mouthful of Insurance, is already making waves, and in this conversation, we dig into exactly why.

We cover:

• The biggest insurance struggles dental practices are facing in 2025
  
  
• Why practices need more than just an insurance coordinator—they need systems
  
  
• The truth about outsourcing verifications and what to look for in a partner
  
  
• How technology (like AI and practice management integrations) is changing the insurance game
  
  
• How to avoid common billing mistakes that can trigger audits or worse
  
  
• The role of accurate coding, documentation, and clear patient communication
  
  
• Why every team member—from front desk to back office—should understand the insurance landscape
  
  

Whether you're in-network, out-of-network, or somewhere in between, Colleen’s insights will help you make smarter financial decisions and run a more efficient, profitable practice.

‍

—

Key Takeaways

00:45 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest  

03:28 Understanding Dental Insurance Consulting  

06:12 Challenges in Dental Practices  

10:13 The Role of Team in Insurance Management  

11:45 Outsourcing Insurance Verification Services  

16:31 Technology in Dental Practices  

18:00 AI and Its Impact on Insurance Claims  

21:25 Navigating Insurance Payments and Estimates  

23:40 The Importance of Accurate Billing Practices  

27:48 Strategies for Increasing UCR Rates  

28:28 The Debate on Pre-Authorizations  

30:44 Overview of Colleen's Book  

31:51 Lightning Round Q&A  

36:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 

‍

—

Learn proven dental marketing strategies and online reputation management techniques at: https://www.drlentau.com

This podcast is sponsored by Dental Intelligence. Learn more at: https://www.dentalintel.com/

This podcast is sponsored by The Doc Sites, the leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists. Find out more at: https://www.docsites.com/

Raving Patients Podcast is your go-to place for the latest and best dental marketing strategies that will help you skyrocket your practice. Follow us for more!

‍