Description

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Stephen and April Smith of 3 Pie Squared break down one of the most misunderstood and operationally critical areas of running an ABA practice: insurance processes. 

From claim denials to prior authorizations, insurance workflows can either support growth or quietly stall it.

Stephen and April walk through the core insurance systems every ABA business owner needs to understand, especially in the early stages, and explain why even experienced providers can run into costly mistakes. 

They are joined by insights from Sagar Jajoo of SILNA, who shares real-world data on where providers most often run into trouble and how strong insurance workflows can support scalability and long-term stability. The conversation highlights why most claim denials stem from front-end issues like benefit checks and authorizations, not clinical documentation, and why relying on inconsistent or manual tracking systems can quickly become a liability as your practice grows. 

Stephen and April also discuss how insurance processes evolve over time, what new owners typically underestimate, and why predictable, well-documented workflows matter not just for growth, but also when preparing to exit or sell a practice. If you want to scale responsibly, improve cash flow, and reduce administrative headaches, this episode lays out what to focus on and what to fix first. 

Get started with SILNA today: https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/silna  

Key Takeaways 

• New ABA owners must understand the core insurance processes early, including benefit checks, authorizations, and claims submission, to avoid preventable denials. 

• Even strong billing teams make mistakes, which is why systems and safeguards matter more than individual effort. 

• Most claim denials originate from front-end insurance issues rather than clinical errors. 

• Lack of standardization around prior authorizations increases risk and slows intake. 

• Manual tracking methods often break down as practices grow. 

• Clean, predictable insurance workflows improve scalability and make your business more attractive to buyers. 

📞 Have a question for Stephen and April? 
Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432 

📚 Resources & Links 

🧾 Business Essentials List 
https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24 

💼 Schedule a consultation with Stephen 
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page 

🧠 Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment 
https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment 

💳 ABA Billing Tips Guide 
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips 

🎧 ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs 
https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs