Many organizations are familiar with using “placeholder” authorizations to hold schedules while waiting on payor approval. In Boost, this concept is handled through Schedule-Only authorizations, which function differently than standard Schedule & Bill authorizations.
Understanding the difference between Schedule & Bill and Schedule-Only authorizations is critical for ensuring appointments can be billed correctly and avoiding unexpected billing issues. While both authorization types allow scheduling, only Schedule & Bill authorizations support billing.
👉 Jump To [What is a Schedule & Bill auth?] [What is Schedule-Only Auth?] [Why would I use a Schedule-Only auth?] [When should I NOT use a Schedule-Only auth?] [What happens when the real auth is approved?] [How is Schedule-Only different than No Auth Required (NAR)?] [Can I bill appointments scheduled under Schedule-Only auths?] [How do I know which auth type to use?] [Common mistakes to avoid]
What is a Schedule & Bill authorization?
A Schedule & Bill authorization is the standard authorization type used for approved, billable services.
Schedule & Bill authorizations:
Allow appointments to be scheduled
Allow completed appointments to be billed
Reflect payor-approved services, date ranges, and units
If services are expected to be billed to a payor, a Schedule & Bill authorization is required. Schedule & Bill authorizations can be created directly or by updating an existing Schedule-Only authorization once payor approval is received.
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What is a Schedule-Only authorization?
A Schedule-Only authorization allows appointments to be scheduled but does not allow billing.
Schedule-Only authorizations are typically used as a temporary state while waiting for payor approval. Once approval is received, the same authorization can be updated to a Schedule & Bill authorization.
Schedule-Only authorizations:
Support scheduling only
Prevent appointments from being billed
Are commonly used while authorization approval is pending
This is Boost’s equivalent of a “placeholder” authorization.
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Why would I use a Schedule-Only authorization?
Schedule-Only authorizations are useful when scheduling needs to move forward but billing cannot yet occur.
Common scenarios include:
Waiting for initial authorization approval
Holding staff or client availability
Avoiding scheduling delays during intake
Schedule-Only authorizations are intended to be temporary and should be replaced once approval is received. Using a Schedule-Only authorization allows scheduling to move forward without requiring appointments to be recreated later, since the authorization can be updated once approval is received.
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When should I NOT use a Schedule-Only authorization?
Schedule-Only authorizations should not be used as a permanent solution. Once authorization approval is received, the authorization should be updated to Schedule & Bill so billing can occur.
Schedule-Only authorizations should not be used when:
Services are already approved
Billing is expected to occur
A payor does not require authorization
In these cases, using a Schedule-Only authorization can unintentionally block billing.
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What happens when the real authorization is approved?
Once payor approval is received, the existing Schedule-Only authorization should be updated to a Schedule & Bill authorization. This typically includes:
Changing the authorization status
Adding the authorization number
Setting the approved date range and services
Uploading authorization documents
Updating the existing authorization allows previously scheduled appointments to become eligible for billing without needing to be recreated.
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How is a Schedule-Only authorization different from a No Auth Required (NAR) authorization?
Unlike Schedule-Only authorizations, NAR authorizations do not need to be updated later — they are billable from the start.
These authorization types serve different purposes:
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Schedule-Only authorization
Allows scheduling
Does not allow billing
Used temporarily while approval is pending
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No Auth Required (NAR) authorization
Allows scheduling and billing
Used when the payor does not require authorization
Accurately reflects payor rules while supporting billing
If a payor does not require authorization, a NAR authorization should be used instead of a Schedule-Only authorization.
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Can I bill appointments that were scheduled under a Schedule-Only authorization?
Appointments linked to a Schedule-Only authorization cannot be billed until the authorization is updated to Schedule & Bill. Once updated and properly configured, those appointments can be billed as long as they fall within the approved date range.
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How do I know which authorization type to use?
Use this quick guide:
Authorization approved → Schedule & Bill
Authorization pending → Schedule-Only (update later to Schedule & Bill)
No authorization required → NAR
Choosing the correct authorization type ensures scheduling flexibility without disrupting billing.
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Common mistakes to avoid
Leaving Schedule-Only authorizations active after approval is received
Forgetting to relink appointments to a Schedule & Bill authorization
Using Schedule-Only authorizations when a NAR authorization is more appropriate
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