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Your Top Questions AnsweredStolen Medical Records; Collecting Patient Balances; Multiple Procedures & Medicare; When a Physician Quits; Power to Negotiate; Stop the Drop in RevenueSTOLEN MEDICAL RECORDS Q. Do you have any suggestions about how to word a letter to patients whose medical charts were stolen? Charts were stolen as one of our providers traveled from one location to another. A. Now would be an excellent time to pull in an experienced attorney. COLLECTING PATIENT BALANCES Q. Despite our best efforts, we continue to be faced with patients who do not make much of an effort to pay their balances. I don't want to abandon these people, yet I don't want to be a patsy. We have tried such actions as not rescheduling until they have paid their balance, or at least a portion. Also, we have told those who have substantial balances and were no-shows for their last appointments, yet want us to call in meds, that we would be happy to work them into the schedule, but they must do their part and make payment before being seen. Any suggestions? A. One suggestion is to make this less of a moral issue for you personally. Set a rule in writing, and give it to all new and existing patients. It should clearly explain that patients are expected to pay and spell out the consequences for not doing so. Those consequences can be whatever you like. All accounts more than 65 days late will be sent to collections, for example. All patients with accounts higher than a determined amount or more than eight months old will be dismissed from the practice. Whatever. |
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