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