5 Ways to Improve RAF Scores Without Adding Admin Burden
Discover five practical strategies to improve RAF scores without adding administrative burden—designed for independent primary care practices navigating value-based care.
RAF SCORESINDEPENDENT PRIMARY CAREVALUE-BASED CARE BILLING
ProTrust Billing Partners LLC
7/15/20251 min read


Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) scores play a critical role in value-based care reimbursement. But for many independent practices, improving RAF scores can feel like a trade-off between clinical care and administrative overload. At ProTrust Billing Partners, we believe you shouldn’t have to choose.
Here are five proven strategies to boost RAF accuracy—without burning out your team.
1. Start with Encounter-Level Documentation
Every visit is an opportunity to capture risk-adjustable conditions. Train providers to document chronic conditions annually—even if stable—and link diagnoses to clinical evidence. This ensures HCCs are supported and compliant.
2. Use a Coding Partner Who Understands HCC Nuance
Generic coding services often miss subtleties in hierarchical condition categories. A billing partner with risk adjustment expertise can flag missed opportunities, validate specificity, and ensure codes reflect true patient complexity.
3. Conduct Targeted Supplemental Code Reviews
Manual chart audits can be time-consuming—but they’re still one of the most effective ways to uncover uncaptured conditions. We focus our reviews on high-impact encounters and chronic conditions that often go undocumented. By using payer-specific coding guidelines and clinical context, we help practices identify missed HCCs without disrupting provider workflows.
4. Submit Clean Claims the First Time
Timely, accurate claim submission reduces denials and ensures HCCs are processed correctly. Our team uses payer-specific strategies to optimize clean claim rates and avoid costly rework.
5. Track Performance Quarterly
RAF improvement isn’t just about coding—it’s about visibility. Quarterly reporting helps practices see which conditions are being captured, where gaps exist, and how to adjust documentation habits
Final Thought
Improving RAF scores doesn’t require more paperwork—it requires smarter billing. With over a decade of hands-on experience, ProTrust Billing Partners helps independent practices thrive in value-based care while staying compliant and efficient.