From:
Gary Seto <glseto@mac.com>
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Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 09:22:34 -0700
Subject: Re: [Practiceimprovement1] Using credit cards
for unpaid bills
Reply-To:
Maggie,
There was a discussion about using credit cards on the listserve around the date of 4/9/06. At that time I mentioned an article about a doctor who requires ALL his patients to leave a credit card number otherwise he will not accept them into the practice. Kelly Locke was clever enough to locate a link to that article:
http://www.familypracticenews.com/article/PIIS0300707305722477/fulltext
I requested and received a copy of the letter/notice this doctor gives to his patients. I thought it was a good idea but modified it for my own practice to make it voluntary instead of mandatory. Below are both Dr. Eastern's letter and mine for comparison. I haven't been that consistent in giving the form out to every patient so far. Patients have been very understanding and I'd guesstimate that 1/3 to 1/2 of new patients are choosing to sign up with it since I started including it with my registration packet about two months ago.
As far as securing the numbers, I scan the signed form into a PDF file and encrypt the file. I think it is safer than loading it into a database, but I could be wrong. I'm glad to hear it is working out for you.
Dr. Eastern's letter below:
To Our Patients:
As you know if you have ever checked into a hotel or rented a car, the first thing you are asked for is a credit card, which is imprinted and later used to pay your bill. This is an advantage for both you and the hotel or rental company, since it makes checkout easier, faster, and more efficient.
We have implemented a similar policy. You will be asked for a credit card number at the time you check in and the information will be held securely until your insurances have paid their portion and notified us of the amount of your share. At that time, any remaining balance owed by you will be charged to your credit card, and a copy of the charge will be mailed to you.
This will be an advantage to you, since you will no longer have to write out and mail us checks. It will be an advantage to us as well, since it will greatly decrease the number of statements that we have to generate and send out. The combination will benefit everybody in helping to keep the cost of health care down.
This in no way will compromise your ability to dispute a charge or question your insurance company’s determination of payment.
Co-pays due at the time of the visit will, of course, still be due at the time of the visit.
If you have any questions about this payment method, do not hesitate to ask.
Sincerely yours,
The Belleville Dermatology Center, PA
---------
My version of the letter:
To Our Patients:
As you know if you have ever checked into a hotel or rented a car, the first thing you are asked for is a credit card, which is later used to pay your bill. This is an advantage for both you and the hotel or rental company, since it makes checkout easier, faster, and more efficient.
We have implemented a similar policy. We are asking for a credit card number and the information will be held securely until your insurances have paid their portion and notified us of the amount of your share. At that time, any remaining balance owed by you will be charged to your credit card, and a copy of the charge will be mailed to you.
This will be an advantage to you, since you will no longer have to write out and mail us checks. In addition, you will be given a 5% discount off any fees that are charged to you. It will be an advantage to us as well, since it will greatly decrease the number of statements that we have to generate and send out. The combination will benefit everybody in helping to keep the cost of health care down.
This in no way will compromise your ability to dispute a charge or question your insurance company’s determination of payment. This policy is completely VOLUNTARY. If you do not submit a credit card, you will continue to be sent a bill in the usual manner for any outstanding charges.
Co-payments will still be due at the time of the visit and are not subject to the 5% discount.
If you have any questions about this payment method, do not hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Gary Seto, MD
On May 20, 2006, at 4:46 AM, Maggie Carpenter wrote:
A few weeks ago I asked folks if they had any experience requiring new patients to give a credit card number at their first visit to cover any unpaid portions. The only response I got said she would run from a practice that asked this.
Interestingly, it has been working quite well. I am a one person office with the exception of my billing and so I am able to explain my financial policy to people myself at their first visit. I tell them that I do not have the time in my micropractice to verify everyone's insurance and so if the visit turns out to be an uncovered service or their deductible hasn't been met I will charge their card. I inform them that I will call them first and send a receipt. People have been perfectly happy and understanding with this policy.
Just thought I would let you all know the outcome.
Maggie Carpenter, MD
Brooklyn, NY