Non-payment of Bills
Patients who expect free care may need to be
terminated from the practice. Before taking that step, however,
physicians would be well advised to consider some of the issues
discussed under "noncompliance" and determine if there are extenuating
circumstances that are making it difficult, if not impossible, for a
patient to meet his/her financial responsibilities. A job layoff, the
termination of unemployment benefits, the illness or death of a family
member, and acute depression are only some of the factors that may
factor into a patient's inability to pay a medical bill.
Risk Management Suggestions
From a risk management perspective, the
physician would be wise to:
- Post billing practices in a visible
place and let patients know at the
time of the first visit how they are expected to handle bills, including
co-payments.
- Address payment issues with the
patient and determine if there are any
extenuating circumstances.
- Set up a payment schedule that is workable for the patient and that ensures
the payment of a certain amount on a regular basis, to be determined by
physician and patient.
- Continue to see the patient who is making good faith efforts to pay a bill or
who has a reasonable excuse for not doing so, at least
temporarily.
- Consider referring to a collection
agency the patient who makes no effort
to pay a bill.
- Consider terminating the professional
relationship with the patient who is a
chronic or persistent non-payer. Termination should follow the steps
noted under "noncompliance."
- Do not refuse to see a patient because of
non-payment of a bill. Medicine must
take precedence over finances until the patient has been terminated from
the practice.
Next Page: Conclusion
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