Author Topic: Convincing office to allow credit card payments  (Read 2098 times)

Laurel

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Convincing office to allow credit card payments
« on: March 30, 2014, 09:36:36 PM »
This is kind of a "vent" session and looking for some suggestions. I am the billing manager for an office that only accepts cash and personal checks. This is very frustrating to myself and also the patients...the front office lady will even send the patient to get cash at the ATM prior to their appt so they can pay (yes, seriously)!!!  I know that if I was a patient and wanted to use my HSA card and was unable to and have to pay out of my own pocket and then submit it to my hsa account directly, only to have it taxed when added to my paycheck I would be extremely frustrated also! I do not know how to present this to the Dr.  I have made mention of it to him and he has stated that a CC company takes too much of a percentage out of the payment. Does anyone have any recommendations? I know a couple patients that left this week because of the inconvenience and it is making my job a little harder in obtaining payments.

Thanks for listening!

Merry

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Re: Convincing office to allow credit card payments
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2014, 09:47:20 PM »
I certainly think you present a valid case.  How about making use of your PM software and run a report of the money generated by the patients that have dropped out and show him what he is losing in revenue compared to the cc fees.  Sometimes people have to be shown in actual numbers before they can realize the impact on the practice.  I applaud you.  You seem to care and can't get through the rigidness of the doctor. 

kristin

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Re: Convincing office to allow credit card payments
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2014, 10:12:24 PM »
Does the doctor even know how minimal the fees are, compared to the loss in revenue from patients switching to a doctor who does take credit cards? For example, if we collect $3000 in CC charges in our office, the fees are approximately $150 for the month. That is NOTHING compared to what would happen in terms of revenue loss if we told just one patient we don't take CC's, and they go elsewhere. Even if the fees were twice that a month or more, we still would lose out by not taking CC's and having patients leave.

My guess is the doctor doesn't have a clear idea of what the fees are, and definitely needs to be educated on it. With more and more patients having HSA/Flex spending cards, to not accept CC's is not good business, IMHO. I know I wouldn't go to an office that didn't take credit/debit cards, and that is simply because I do not carry cash or checks with me normally. People also want to build up cash back rewards, so will whip out their card even if they do have cash or a check on them. I see it all the time in my office.

Maybe you could get quotes from various CC processing companies, and present that to the doctor. Start with the CC company associated with the bank the practice uses, and go from there. I truly think that if the doctor sees how minimal the fees are compared to loss of revenue, he will realize he is being penny-wise and pound foolish.


DMK

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Re: Convincing office to allow credit card payments
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2014, 02:00:57 PM »
Ditto!!! Have the doctor go directly to his bank for merchant services.  We pay around 2%.  Most people pay with a card, and it's much easier to get paid right up front if you take cards.  Our credit card processing has quadrupled with taking debit and HSA cards.  They can even pay over the phone!  Our collections are SO much better now, and more people are willing to pay with a card. 

Also, make sure the staff is educated to promoting the HSA cards.  Many patients don't even realize what the card is for.  A little pep talk benefits the patient and the office.  Everyone gets service and everyone gets paid.

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Convincing office to allow credit card payments
« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2014, 02:00:57 PM »