By Brandon Seigel, Chief Problem Solver · August 21, 2026 · 6 min read
What a trailing KPI is
A trailing KPI measures what already happened. Collection rate, revenue per visit, no-show rate, and net profit margin are all trailing KPIs. They're how you diagnose trends and judge results.
The benchmark we hold billing to
My recommended collection benchmark: 97% of collections received within 30 days of date of service for all primary payers. It's measurable, it's specific, and when it drops you know exactly where to look.
Every KPI needs a trigger
If you measure a number with no plan for when it misses, you're gathering data, not managing performance. Every KPI needs a rule: when we fall below X, we do Y.
Keep the list short, and look over time
A few principles that keep KPIs useful:
- Track three to five high-impact KPIs per area — more dilutes attention.
- Compare rolling periods, not single snapshots, to separate anomalies from trends.
- Pair each metric with an owner and a response protocol.
Quick answers
What is a good collection rate for a therapy practice?
Brandon Seigel's benchmark is 97% of primary-payer collections received within 30 days of the date of service.
Sources and further reading
See exactly what's included in our medical billing services for therapy practices, how our percentage-of-collections pricing works, or browse common questions from practice owners.
Want this handled inside your EMR, every business day?
Our US-Based W2 employees work your claims daily. Tell us about your practice.
Start a conversation