Doing More with Less: How Labs Can Overcoming Staffing Shortages and Laboratory Billing Reimbursement Challenges

Across the industry, labs are being pushed to operate with fewer people, handle more complex demands, and stricter reimbursement rules that test both efficiency and resilience.

It is not just that reimbursement amounts are smaller. Collecting them has become harder. Denials are on the rise, payer rules change frequently, and even small errors at the intake stage can delay payments for weeks. Meanwhile, reduced staffing levels make it harder to catch and fix issues before they impact cash flow.

The result: Labs are expected to deliver faster results, maintain compliance, and protect revenue with fewer people and tighter budgets.

Why this is more than a billing problem

Revenue cycle success starts long before a claim is filed. If intake data is incomplete, ICD-10 codes are missing, or test orders do not meet coverage policies, the claim is already on track for rejection. By the time the denial arrives, the lab has already spent time and resources performing the test without being paid. When reduced staffing levels are already stretched thin, reworking those claims can be costly in both time and morale.

Strengthening the front end

The most effective labs address these issues at the start. Real-time eligibility checks, insurance verification before testing, and order validation against payer rules prevent problems before they start. Intake processes should be fully integrated into the lab’s EHR, LIS, and middleware so that data flows cleanly from order to result to claim without manual re-entry.

Smart automation with oversight

Automation is critical when staffing is limited, but it needs to be intelligent. Rules should be set by payer and CPT code, with built-in checks to ensure proper ICD-10 coding and complete documentation. Without oversight, a small configuration error can replicate across hundreds of claims before anyone notices. Regular audits keep the process healthy and prevent revenue loss at scale.

Making data work for you

Top-performing labs do more than track days in accounts receivable or denial rates. They break down denials by payer, CPT code, and ordering source, analyze net revenue by test type, and measure payment speed by client group. This insight helps identify loss-leading tests, improve documentation workflows, and strengthen payer negotiations.

Building compliance into every step

Clean claims are a compliance outcome. Maintaining up-to-date SOPs, documenting validation processes, and aligning workflows to current regulations helps labs pass audits without disrupting operations.

How JTG bridges the gap

At JTG Consulting Group, we bring over 625 years of combined laboratory IT expertise to help labs connect clinical workflows, IT systems, and revenue cycle performance into one streamlined process. We:

·      Design optimized workflows that eliminate redundant steps and free staff for higher-value work

·      Implement intake validation inside your systems so orders are correct before testing begins

·      Configure interface rules in your EHR or LIS to match payer requirements automatically

·      Develop custom dashboards that reveal where revenue is being lost and how to recover it

·      Provide project management and staff augmentation so you can complete initiatives without overwhelming your core team

Turning constraints into opportunities

Reduced staffing levels and tighter reimbursements are here to stay. But with the right systems, automation, and analytics, labs can transform these pressures into opportunities for efficiency and stability.

JTG can help you build an operation that works under today’s pressures and positions you to thrive in the future.

If you want to learn more, email us at TeamJTG@jtg.group. We’d love to talk about how we can help your lab work smarter, protect revenue, and set you up for long-term success.