Collections Procedures for Patient Responsibility Balances
POLICY:
Procedures are in place to manage payments for services provided to patients.
PURPOSE:
To assist patients in managing and meeting their financial obligations for the care they obtained.
PROCEDURE:
All patients with a patient responsibility balance will receive a monthly statement.
The patient will be issued a refund if the patient overpays their account.
Refunds are processed at least monthly.
Payment arrangements which exceed a three month payment plan will require a signed Facility Payment Plan document which will be issued by the center.
If a patient misses a payment during a payment arrangement the account will be considered delinquent and subject to collections procedures.
During the Collections process the account may be sent to an external collections agency with the approval of the Center Office Manager.
All accounts will be managed using the following schedule:
- Once insurance has paid the patient will receive a statement
- If no payment is received or payment arrangements made after 30 days the patient will receive a statement and a “past-due” statement/letter
- If no payment is received or payment arrangements made after 60 days the patient may receive a “final notice” statement/letter
- If no payment is received or payment arrangements made within 10 of receiving the final notice the patient’s account may be referred to an external collection agency for further collection efforts.
The Business Office Manager is responsible for management and oversight of the billing and collections processes at the center.