Personal Injury Billing Services
Personal injury and auto accident billing follows a different path than standard insurance billing. Some patients are covered by auto policies such as personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage. Others receive care on a lien or letter of protection, where payment depends on a case outcome.
This means the billing office has to manage claim numbers, adjusters, lien paperwork, and long payment timelines. Westmont Revenue Partners connects providers with vetted personal injury billing experts who understand these mechanics. This page describes billing processes only and is not legal advice.
Who this is for
- Chiropractors, physical therapists, and pain management practices
- Orthopedic and spine practices treating accident patients
- Urgent care and primary care clinics that see accident-related visits
- Imaging centers that receive referrals from injury cases
- Practices in states with no-fault or PIP auto coverage
- Practices that accept lien-based care
What gets billed
- Initial accident-related evaluations and follow-up visits
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Chiropractic treatments
- Diagnostic imaging, such as x-rays and MRI
- Injections and pain procedures
- Specialist consultations
- Narrative and special reports requested by an attorney or insurer
- Records and itemized bills for the patient's case file
Commonly billed codes
| Code | Type | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 99080 | CPT | Special report, such as a detailed injury report beyond routine forms |
| 99213 | CPT | Established patient office visit, low-level decision making or 20 minutes of total time |
| 71046 | CPT | Chest x-ray, at least two views |
| S13.4XXA | ICD-10-CM | Neck ligament sprain, initial encounter |
| M54.2 | ICD-10-CM | Neck pain (cervicalgia) |
| V43.52XA | ICD-10-CM | External cause: car driver injured in collision with another type of car, traffic accident, initial encounter |
Note
Codes are examples for orientation, not a complete list, and do not guarantee coverage or payment. Always check current code sets and payer policy.
Billing challenges in personal injury
Coverage order. Depending on the state and policy, auto coverage such as PIP may pay before health insurance, or the reverse. A biller experienced in personal injury billing confirms the right payer order for each patient before billing.
Letters of protection and lien paperwork. For lien-based care, the practice keeps a signed agreement and clear records of services. Billers keep these documents organized and linked to each account. Questions about what a document means legally should go to an attorney.
Long payment timelines. Lien accounts may not be paid until a case ends. Billers track open balances, case status, and attorney contacts so nothing is lost.
Itemized bills and records requests. Attorneys and insurers often ask for itemized statements and records. Billers prepare these quickly and keep a log of what was sent.
Coding for accident-related care. Claims usually need injury diagnosis codes and, where payers want them, external cause codes. Billers sequence them correctly and keep dates of injury consistent.
PIP limits and exhaustion. PIP benefits may have limits and state-specific rules. Billers watch remaining benefits and rebill other payers when a limit is reached.
Reductions and negotiations. Balances may be reduced in settlement discussions. Billers record adjustments clearly, and the practice owner decides what to accept.
How Westmont can help
- Matching you with vetted billing experts experienced in PIP and lien-based accounts
- End-to-end revenue cycle support, from intake to payment posting
- Denial management for auto and health insurer claims
- Help with payer enrollment and credentialing questions
- Account tracking for open lien balances and case status
Frequently asked questions
What is personal injury medical billing?
Personal injury medical billing covers care for patients hurt in accidents, where payment may come from auto insurance, a health plan, or a lien tied to a legal case. The billing office manages claim numbers, payer order, lien documents, and itemized statements. It does not involve legal advice.
What is PIP billing?
PIP, or personal injury protection, is auto coverage that may pay medical bills after an accident, depending on the state and policy. Providers usually bill the PIP carrier with claim and policy details. Benefit limits and rules vary, so check the current requirements for your state.
What is a letter of protection?
A letter of protection is a document in which a patient and often their attorney agree that a provider will be paid from any case recovery. From a billing view, it means tracking the account until the case resolves. For what the document means legally, speak with an attorney.
Can I bill health insurance for an accident?
It depends on the state, the patient's auto policy, and the health plan's rules. Some health plans require auto coverage to be billed first. A biller can check payer order for each patient before sending claims.
How do I keep lien accounts organized?
Keep each signed agreement, the date of injury, attorney contact, itemized charges, and a log of updates in one account file. A billing partner can set up regular status checks so open balances do not go stale.
Related billing services
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