Wayne, just tremenDous info. I was lucky to have AC when I started my practice so all my info was clean. But, how do I tell all my self-pay and insured patients that they now have to have a credit card on file? I would love that. Just asking. You know, most of our back balances are due to uncollected copays. Would love to have a CC just for those.
I know what I will get on this. But, I will throw it out there for suggestions. My receptionist is not good at getting copays. The only reason she is here is because I have never seen anyone better on the phone. She may be the best in Maine. Unbelievable. I know that asking for copays are difficult, but it is also her bonus, her raises, etc.
Would love to hear from Leslie.
Bert, we don't keep CCs on file for self paying patients. They know they are expected to pay in full when they come. If they can't, they know to discuss it with me and I will work out an arrangement with them. Our 2nd most reliable payer ever was a woman who was self pay. Uncontrolled DM2 when she came with non-healing foot ulcers. Her daughter insisted she come because she was not improving with the treatments she was getting from the neighborhood free clinics. She often didn't have the cash to pay since she also had to pay the podiatrist upstairs. But she always made payments and never complained about the fees . Her daughter finally got her onto medicare, but by then we actaully had he on insulin (she was afraid of it so that took some work) and her foot ulcers were long gone. My overall favorite patient ever.
But to get back on topic, self pay patients don't need to leave a CC on file unless they really want to. Insured patients do. We did lose some, but not too many. Some I just had to talk to a little to explain what Other people do, and that a policy like this can't be used on individual patients--it must be everyone since we don't discriminate. I also liken it to having Netflix, or staying in a hotel or renting a car. They automatically charge your card if something from the room is missing, or if they find damage to the car. The vast majority (at least in NYC)just do it.
