(28) CCMA Patient Billing, Posting Patient Payments, and Collecting Fees

account statement contents

charges, payments, balances, and dates

monthly vs cycle billing

monthly sends all at once, cycle sends in groups

posting payments

recording payments to patient account

NSF check handling

reverse payment, notify patient, apply fee

aging accounts

tracking unpaid balances over time

collection call steps

verify info, remain professional, request payment

role of collection agency

collects unpaid debts for provider

billing exceptions

situations where someone else is responsible for payment

account history

record of all account activity

at the time of service

payment collected during visit

nonsufficient funds

not enough money in account

termination

ending services or agreement

bankruptcy

legal process to eliminate debt

outsourcing

using outside company for services

aging of accounts

tracking unpaid balances by time

alpha search

finding records alphabetically

date of service

date care was provided

expended

used or spent

practice management system

software for office operations

third-party viability

ability of insurer to pay

antagonize

provoke or upset

idle

inactive

skip

patient avoiding payment

year-to-date

totals from beginning of year