Payments > Patient Billing

What's the best way to collect from patients?

(1/3) > >>

jcfenfen:
I have couple patients have long overdue balances and they don't pick up the phone.  So what's the best way to collect from the patients? Which would work better, small claim court or collection agency? Any advice is greatly appreciated.   

Pay_My_Claims:
Unfortunately, the best way to collect is up front. Its so important for physicians to verify patient eligibility, ded, copay, and coins prior to office visits. Medical services like anything you get that can't be taken away is hard to collect for. You skip out on paying for a car, you can lose that and everything you paid into it, however, the MD can't get this dx back, nor his rx. You can just simply go to another physician.  The thought of going to collections can scare some people, but if you are REALLY worried about your credit, you would probably be paying the bill. Small claims court can be expensive, and it can only win you your case. Unless you are getting wage garnishments, you still won't collect. There is no right nor wrong way to go, and it all varies case by case. I would probably try sending out soft collections first, then a collection agency, then small claims. This is all depending on the amount of the debt. If its so low (copay) I would adjust off as a bad debt and place a note on the clients account. "BAD DEBT COLLECT OLD BALANCE*

jcfenfen:
Thank you so much for your great advice.  I am billing for hospitalist, so I can't collect up front when patient entered the hospital, only collect it afterwards, that's why it's problematic. 

Michele:
That is a difficult situation.  Pay_My_Claims had good advice.  I agree, soft collections (which you've really attempted), collection agency, small claims.

Michele

Pay_My_Claims:

--- Quote from: jcfenfen on March 28, 2009, 04:18:51 PM ---Thank you so much for your great advice.  I am billing for hospitalist, so I can't collect up front when patient entered the hospital, only collect it afterwards, that's why it's problematic. 

--- End quote ---

JC I feel your "pain". I know personally that polite bill collectors get the best response from me :-) I do soft collections now, and I'd prefer taking 4 months to pay a 100 bill than getting nothing at all. I know on your end the scale can be much higher.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page