Homeless patients

[macbook]

Hi!

Once again, one of our clients, a Hospitalist, saw 2 patients in the ER recently but with no address. Either they are homeless or a John Doe. Any insights on how to handle these patients? We were thinking of sending the claims directly to Collections or should we write this off?

Sometimes it is easier when the client has an office and staff but when a provider works solo it is quite a challenge

Just wondering how you would handle this.

Thank you

[PMRNC]

This may sound like a silly question..but do they have insurance? Medicaid even? If so verify benefits and you have to use the address they have on file unfortunately. If there's no insurance than I would go ahead and follow your office financial policy in regards to indigence or hardship cases.

[macbook]

Thanks Linda , the pt does not have any other insurance, not even Medicaid.

I was just wondering what you would do with these cases. Homeless. Send them to collection? Would the collection agency have a better way of finding a way to collect from them? Or are we better off just writing them off and not waste my time on it?

Thanks Linda. 

[Michele]

I've got to give my opinion on this one......I can't see why you would send them to collections if they are homeless.  If they are homeless there is most likely nothing to collect, correct?  I don't think a collection agency would have any more 'luck' collecting than anyone else, with the exception of the someone connected to organized crime.  I think it would be a waste of your time to send the info over to the collection agency, and a waste of the collection agency's time to try to locate someone without any address, job, etc.   I'm afraid the dr is going to have to eat this one.

[PMRNC]

I agree with Michele, there's likely nothing to collect and it sounds like this was known when the patient came in so it's a wash. Indigence and hardship cases should be outlined in your office polices as well which is why I said to refer to it for how to handle it for your office.

[macbook]

Thank you so much for your feedback. I truly appreciate opinions from all of you. .