Dental Patient Aging Reports ~ What Are They?
Dental patient aging reports are computer generated reports. These reports show the patient balances owed to the dental practice. You might also find some insurance claims hiding out in this report. But for the most part, this report shows unpaid patient balances. It displays the total amount owed as well as a breakdown of “aged” amounts.
Money Owed
At a glance, you can see the total amount owed to the dental practice. It’s critical to understand what is current and what is past due. These are important numbers to monitor and track each month. Understanding the report will help the dental front office team or billing team better use the report.
When to Print Dental Patient Aging Reports
Each week, print the patient aging report. I print these reports on Tuesdays. Larger dental practices would focus only one category of this aging report each week. Or if you have a large patient aging report, start with just one aged category each week.
Patient Aging Reports Every Tuesday
My Weekly Management Systems outlines it all. Which weekly reports to run and when to run them. Special assignments and daily tasks that guide the team through just how and when to do all that needs to get done!
How to Work Dental Patient Aging Reports
Highlight the category and column you are focusing on. So, let’s start with the over 30 category and highlight that column. Now, follow down that column and review patient by patient. Be sure to check a statement shows under the “last statement date” column. Also review when the last payment was received.
Patient Balances Over 30 Days are Overdue
Call your patient. Especially in this over 30-day category. So, when you see that no payment was received and a statement was sent, make a call. Keep the conversation light. “Hi Jane. This is April at Dr. Brown’s dental office. I’m checking in to make sure you received our statement dated (date). Great! I can take your payment now over the phone, if you’d like.”
Daily Patient Billing
I talk about this a lot! Daily patient statements are a must. Set up your filters so that patients only receive one statement every 30 days.
Call at the over 30-day mark. And then begin your collection letter series as well.
Begin Now!
No matter what your patient account aging looks like, you can begin now. Implement the systems as I outline them and get your dental office collection rate to a 100% consistent rate.
Yes, you can!