Billing and Collections
What is the name of a patient bill that records services and charges for a specific time period.
An invoice
Which of the following attitudes is most acceptable for an assistant to have when discussing finances with a patient?
Respectful and understanding
In the medical office, who is responsible for helping patients their invoice?
The medical office assistant
Who can a medical office assistant speak to about a patients unpaid bill?
The patient and the patients guarantor
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 upaid bill?
A letter
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 service performed in one visit
When should a receipt be issued to a patient?
Every time a patient makes a payment in the office.
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
Patients will receive a monthly bill from the medical practice evan after the account has been turned over to third-party collection agency.
False
When should a patient be given an estimate of how much the fee for service might be?
When an appointment is set
Ideally, when should patients payments be received?
At the time of service
What does it mean to extend credit to a patient?
The patient can pay for service in installments
Which of the following definition best describes the term " guaranter"?
A person responsible for paying a patients bill.
Which of the following definitions best describes an againg report?
A record of all unpaid accounts, organzied by date of service or date of first bill.
Which of the following is another term for "superbill"?
Encounter form
In which of the following situations would the Truth in Lending Act apply?
If a patient sets up a payment plan with five installments
Why does the office assistant need a copy of the fee schedule when discussing patient invoices?
It lists charges for each service
How often should patients receive a billing statement?
Once per month
Why might an office divide patient billing into several cycles per month?
To stabilize the assistants workload
In an office with a computerized practice-management system, patient invoices still must be written out by hand.
False
Is it 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
