Thank you to all who responded. I appreciate the suggestions.
We have tried many of the suggested methods of collecting. We do collect
deductibles and co-pays at the time of service, but sometimes we get bogus
info from patient or insurance company. We occasionally set up payment
plans with our patients who need it, but sometimes people just stop paying.
We have looked at collection agencies and, in a few cases, even worked with
a law firm specializing in collections.we won all of our judgments, but a
year later, we still have not been paid.
I guess that what I was looking for was the magic letter. You know, the one
that entices patients/clients to pay their bill without alienating them, and
at the same time encourages them to come back again when they need further
service.
Below is a list of the responses that I have received thus far. I will post
more if I get them.
Thanks again!!!
Bernie T. Veldman
BOC Orthotist
www.surestep.net
I don’t have any magical ways, but I would love for you to post your
responses.
Using a collection agency to send a one time letter informing them they
have been turned over to this agency and informing them their credit will be
effected. This can be inexpensive and motivate a patient to pay their
balance. These type of services supplied by Bad Debit Collection company’s
usually have a time time fee for this type of letter and no % charged for
the collections.
A patient usually makes an attempt to pay when they become aware that their
small balance could and will effect their credit. I have seen this type of
attempt used and it has been successful. Obviously there will always be
those who do not care about their credit and will disregard the attempt.
Hello! Your message from the O&P listserv was sent to me by the owner of
this company, Paul De La Torre, CPO.
Our A/R at greater than 120 days is usually less than 7% of the total A/R .
Our *secret* is constant diligence and monthly meetings with the a/r staff.
I’d be happy to talk to you about our structure. I have presented on this
issue for AOPA and some of the AAOP cec meetings.
We have 4 notices that we send out- standard monthly or payment due notices,
a friendly late notice with a warning (the second month) and a delinquent
account notice (3rd month) with a strict policy statement. The delinquent
account notice states that we will no longer provide service until the
account balance is paid in full. We also have policies to support this. We
then write it off. If a patient hasn’t contacted us in this amount of time,
they aren’t going to pay. We also put a hold on the computer so that they
cannot schedule.
You have a few options. Write them off. Turn them over to a collection co.
Have your AR’s person work on them from home or on weekends and give them a
%. Keep in mind the reason why your ar’s are in this mess. I recommend you
review your ar’s monthly . It is less painfull to write alittle at a time .
We try to collect at the time of service anything under $200.
Go through the accounts you are considering for writing off. Pull out any
files of friends, family, or people that go to your church. Write a nice,
heartfelt letter of apology to the rest of them letting them know that
unless you hear back from them within 30 days, you will have no choice but
to turn them over to a collection agency. Let them know that even if they
can’t pay anything, you at least need for them to contact you and let you
know if there is a problem. Deal with the responeses you get according to
each situation and sell the rest of the lot to the highest bidder.
Or…write them off and be done with it. (good deeds have their merit
too!) Whatever you decide…best of luck! Let us know how you fare.
I turn mine over for collections. Better yet if you think there will be a
copay we try to collect up front. Whole lot easier to refund than collect 🙂
The people who say eat it or i go elsewhere we at least know where we stand
and can avoid carrying the AR. Hope this helps.
I just keep sending them a statement on a monthly basis until tax time, then
I write them off. I don’t send anything to collections under $100.00. My
dentist is very good about collections, she will highlight the amount due on
every statement and then will call you (even for $10) if you don’t send in
the payment after two statements. I think often times our patients have
such big bills, that they put off the little ones and we go unpaid. Oh by
the way, after three unpaid statements we send them a little warning letter
saying they will be sent to collections–but we never send them to
collections.
This is just a thought send them a post card asking for payment of at least
$10.00 and on the card list all info of amount billed and amount paid to
date ,no names of patient this way you aren’t violating HIPPA and if they
have moved with no forwarding address you are only out a $1.00 for
processing a postcard
