Author Topic: Overpaying Patients  (Read 2496 times)

redeyecherry

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Overpaying Patients
« on: May 17, 2010, 06:15:21 PM »
Ok uhm if our Patients pay for the office visit at the time of service and then pay again when they receive the eob from their insurance isnt it wrong not to tell them that they are overpaying?
The Patient i am talking about already has a 51 dollar credit in our office. He just sent in 2 checks for his last 2 office visits because he got the bill from the insurance. He however already paid when he was here. My Office manager does not want me to tell the patient, neither does he want me to give the checks back to the patient.

I need an opinion on this.

thanks :)

Pay_My_Claims

  • Guest
Re: Overpaying Patients
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2010, 06:23:28 PM »
well if you are asking, then you are not ok with this policy. this is TYPICAL for providers to keep credits on patients accounts. This is how I dealt with it during my office times. When you print out the encounter form it shows patient balances, so even credits would show. Next time client comes in and make their copay, I always told them, "no mr/ms you actually have a credit. I would circle it on the encounter form. tell them they can speak with the OM in reference to that. Let the OM tell them he or she REFUSES to give them back their credit.

redeyecherry

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Re: Overpaying Patients
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2010, 08:38:02 PM »
Well... he told me i am not allowed to do that because i did it before. Anybody have a job opening? XD
I feel really bad about it and actually have to hold myself back not to tell the patients cause ill prolly get fired for it...
The office manager is the Doctors husband so basically he is taking the money from the patients with no right doing it.
I really actually dont want to work for him when he starts talking like that...

DMK

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 680
Re: Overpaying Patients
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2010, 01:33:28 PM »
IMHO. Yikes!  There are laws in place in California regarding refunding patient's overpayments.  Your OM is not doing his spouse any favors by holding onto overpayments.  If the patient complains to the insurance board, (and it's really simple mathematics to match your EOB's with your check book and receipts from the doctor's office) there will be hell to pay.  Not to mention that when the patient finds out they will holler it all over town.  Not good business practice.

If the patient is a chronic slow pay, and you get a little ahead, I might not blame him.  But it sounds like the patient is one of the good guys who pays his bill, on time and ahead of time.  Patients like that are gold.  It's not a good idea to make them mad.

I truly appreciate your good heart, knowing that it's wrong, and contemplating a new job.  This kind of bad business is usually only the beginning.  Follow your heart.  And CYA!  ;D

redeyecherry

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 22
Re: Overpaying Patients
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2010, 04:17:10 PM »
thanks a bunch for the opinions. Started looking for a new job already - thats how uncomfortable i am feeling with it lol

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Overpaying Patients
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2010, 04:17:10 PM »