| Although you make a patient feel better, | | | | being placed for medical collections.WHAT |
| there isn't usually anything tangible to be a | | | | NOW?There is a limit to the amount of time |
| reminder of your service. When it comes time | | | | and effort that you should spend trying to |
| for the patient to pay their bills, yours is | | | | collect on your past due medical accounts. |
| often at the bottom of the pile. You are | | | | You will know that any further medical |
| competing with other credit grantors that | | | | collections efforts on your part will be |
| supplied a tangible product, or something | | | | unsuccessful if any of the following |
| they really enjoy like cable or their cell | | | | occurs:No response to your statements, |
| phone and therefore your medical collections | | | | letters and phone callsMissing scheduled |
| problem is more difficult.This is why it's | | | | payments as per your arrangement, for no |
| important to learn as much as possible about | | | | reasonRepeated complaintsStarts denying |
| your patient and make your credit policy | | | | responsibilityMail is returned and you don't |
| clear before the medical service is actually | | | | have a valid addressMarital difficultiesPhone |
| given. This will help you minimize future | | | | is disconnected and there is no new |
| medical collections problems. This is when | | | | listingJob lossIf any of these problems |
| the patient is most likely to be | | | | occur, you should place the account for |
| cooperative.The information you should obtain | | | | medical collections immediately, the longer |
| is as follows:> Patients full name and | | | | you wait the more difficult it is to collect |
| birth date> The full name of the person | | | | or locate the debtor.DOING MEDICAL |
| financially responsible for the patient, full | | | | COLLECTIONS YOURSELFSome healthcare |
| address, phone numbers for home, work, and a | | | | professionals, hospitals and clinics feel |
| relative.> Social Security number> Present | | | | that they can collect past-due accounts |
| employer, job title, name of supervisor, | | | | themselves. This could save the fee charged |
| address, & phone number> Name and address of | | | | by a medical collections service.Some of the |
| insurance companyYou should also verify | | | | costs involved in doing it yourself |
| insurance information at this time if | | | | are:Salaries - A medical collections |
| possible.PREDICTING POTENTIAL MEDICAL | | | | supervisor and collectors will have to be |
| COLLECTIONS PROBLEMSHere are some things to | | | | paid.Telephones - Collectors spend a lot of |
| look for that will help predict a potential | | | | time on the phone, some of these calls will |
| medical collections problem:Has the patient | | | | be long distance.Postage - Collectors send a |
| had several jobs in a short period of | | | | lot of notices and verifications of bills and |
| time?Has the patient moved often?Is the | | | | there will be a large increase in |
| patient having personal problems?Does the | | | | postage.Computers, Software & Other Equipment |
| patient have a phone?MEDICAL COLLECTIONS | | | | - This could involve a big initial |
| SCHEDULES AND PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTSSome tips | | | | investment. Also, you may need to be able to |
| for billing and medical collections that have | | | | do some skip tracing, and credit reporting on |
| worked well for professional credit grantors | | | | these patients.Training - Collectors need to |
| are as follows:Ask for payment at the time of | | | | know the laws in the state you are located |
| the treatment, if possible. If they have | | | | and also follow the Fair Debt Collection |
| insurance, ask for payment of the portion of | | | | Practices Act. They may need to be trained in |
| the bill that will not be covered by | | | | skip tracing, collection techniques and |
| insurance.Provide an itemized statement | | | | letter writing.Things to look out for when |
| within 30 days from their visit, if you | | | | collecting yourself:Make sure your medical |
| cannot provide one at the time of | | | | collections staff is thoroughly trained in |
| treatment.Send another statement 30 days | | | | consumer debt counseling, state and federal |
| later.If no payment is received 14 days after | | | | credit and collection laws.Do not spend too |
| the second statement has been sent, send a | | | | much time, which is money, on pursuing |
| friendly reminder.Call if there is no | | | | accounts that you don't feel you will collect |
| response 10 days after the friendly reminder | | | | on.Have at least one collector who is |
| is sent.If there is still no response, send a | | | | familiar with small claims procedures. |
| final letter explaining that the account is | | | | |