Final answer:
Claims done by direct billing do not necessarily first go to a clearinghouse; direct billing often means they are sent straight to the insurance company. A clearinghouse is commonly used to process and check claims for errors, but this is not always the case with direct billing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that claims done by direct billing first go to a clearinghouse is generally false. Direct billing typically means the healthcare provider sends the claim directly to the insurance company or payer without going through a third party. However, it is common for claims in the healthcare industry to be processed through a clearinghouse, which acts as an intermediary that checks the claim for errors and formats it according to the specifications of the payer. This is part of a process designed to streamline billing and reduce errors, but it's not a step used in every single direct billing scenario.