Jho Outlaw, senior vice president of revenue cycle services for ASC software company Surgical Information Systems and Jessica Nelson, director of revenue cycle services for SIS weighed in on how to improve patient collection after surgery.
The key details they shared:
1. Payment plans. Ms. Outlaw and Ms. Nelson recommended that payment plans last no longer than six months, with the preferred amount of time being three months. If an ASC wants to avoid payment plans altogether, it can offer a discount for paying up front.
2. Bad checks written by patients. Securing payments through debit and credit cards is preferred, but many patients can only pay by check. Ms. Outlaw and Ms. Nelson recommended not issuing refunds for overpayments until the check clears the bank.
3. Addressing actual costs vs. estimates. If a patient asks why their bill ends up being more than the amount quoted before surgery, having patients sign documentation stating that the figure given was an estimate can help clear the air.