Billing and Collections Unit
Ideally, when should patient payments be received?
At the time of service
When should a receipt be issued to a patient?
Every time the patient makes a payment in the office
Which of the following attitudes is most acceptable for an assistant to have when discussing finances with a patient?
Respectful and understanding
What is a fee schedule?
A list of specified fees a physician charges for services
Which of the following best describes a superbill?
A patient invoice listing services performed in one visit
When should a patient be given an estimate of how much the fee for service might be?
When the appointment is set
Which of the following definitions best describes an aging report?
A record of all unpaid patient accounts, organized by date of service or date of first bill
What is the name of a patient bill that records services and charges for a specific time period?
An invoice
It is okay to threaten a patient who has not paid with legal action, even if this is an action the office is not currently planning to take.
False
Patients will receive a monthly bill from the medical practice even after the account has been turned over to a third-party collection agency.
False
In which of the following situations would the Truth in Lending Act apply?
If a patient sets up a payment plan with five installments
How often should patients receive a billing statement?
Once per month
In the medical office, who is responsible for helping patients understand their invoice?
The medical office assistant
Who can a medical office assistant speak to about a patient's unpaid bill?
The patient and the patient's guarantor
What does it mean to extend credit to a patient?
The patient can pay for service in installments.
Which of the following methods of payment is least likely to be accepted at any medical office?
Third-party check
Which of the following is the least confrontational way to approach a patient about an unpaid bill?
A letter
Which of the following definitions best describes the term "guarantor"?
A person responsible for paying a patient's bill
Which of the following is another term for "superbill"?
Encounter form
If a patient plans to use a credit or debit card as payment, the physician is allowed to charge a higher fee for the patient's service.
False
In an office with a computerized practice-management system, patient invoices still must be written out by hand.
False
Why does the office assistant need a copy of the fee schedule when discussing patient invoices?
It lists the charges for each service
What purpose does the Truth in Lending Act serve?
It requires physicians to disclose interest charges if any are charged.
Which of the following is the best option for dealing with long-term delinquent accounts?
Send the account to a third-party collection agency.
Why might an office divide patient billing into several cycles per month?
To stabilize the assistant's workload