Working Overdue Patient Accounts
Working overdue patient accounts takes lots of energy and time! I set aside a special time each month to do this.
On the Tuesday of each month, I print a patient ageing report. On the third Tuesday of each month, I focus on the patient balances over 90 days.
I then set aside a time to work on it. The amount of time you are going to need to work on your patient accounts over 90 days will depend on how large this is for you.
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Working Overdue Patient Accounts One by One!
Print the patient aging report with the largest balances first. You might also be given the option of printing the patient ageing report with the oldest balances first.
Because I print these reports each and every week, I don’t need the oldest first. I know exactly what is going to be in my report. However, I want to attempt to get the largest balances paid first.
Working Overdue Patient Accounts With Confidence!
Before you do anything on the accounts, be sure you know them inside out. Take each account individually. One at a time.
Start with the largest balance. Review the patient information. Know who is on the account. Read through the patients’ ledgers.
Compare all outstanding balances for each patient against their chart notes. You are looking for anything unusual that might matter. You also want to just educate yourself on your patient’s treatment before reaching out.
Working Overdue Patient Accounts Success
How do patient accounts get to this over 90 day point? Every account has a story. When patients are not paying in full at the time of service there are going to be stories.
If insurance is also being billed, there is another story. Insurance companies can deny a claim. Insurance coverage can terminate. Patients get sick. They also lose their jobs or any number of situations.
Positive Words & Interactions
It’s important to stay positive. Go into every conversation believing that your patient has good intent. If they are avoiding your call, know it’s most likely because they feel bad. Which is a good thing.
Stay friendly. Be kind. Work with people and they will work with you.
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