Patient Collections
The process of recovering the share of a healthcare bill owed directly by the patient after insurance has paid, spanning statements, reminders, and payment arrangements. For ambulatory surgery centers, rising deductibles make timely patient collections a major driver of cash flow.
What are patient collections?
Patient collections is the process of recovering the portion of a healthcare bill that the patient owes directly, after insurance has paid its share. It spans sending statements, issuing reminders, answering billing questions, and setting up payment arrangements when a balance cannot be paid at once.
This work begins once the payer has adjudicated the claim and a patient balance remains. It continues until the balance is paid, resolved, or written off.
Why are patient collections important for surgery centers?
As high-deductible health plans have grown, patients now owe a larger share of the total cost of care, which makes the amount collected directly from them a meaningful driver of cash flow. Money that is billed but never collected becomes bad debt.
Surgical balances at an ambulatory surgery center can be substantial, so timely and clear patient collections have a direct effect on the center's financial health. Pursuing balances promptly and offering reasonable payment options improves the odds of full payment.
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