Experts answered your questions from Chiropractic Economics’ Dec. 2 Webinar titled “Collections: How to get paid in a timely fashion.” Please check the Web site frequently for answers to upcoming Webinars.
Q. Can Medicare deductibles be collected at the beginning of the year when you know they have not been met anywhere?
A. Wait for the first EOB, and then collect the deductible. (Marty Kotlar, DC, CHCC, CBCS)
Q. Can deductible be collected from Medicare?
A. No. (Marty Kotlar, DC, CHCC, CBCS)
Q. Can Medicare Prepay?
A. No. (Marty Kotlar, DC, CHCC, CBCS)
Q. How can you collect money upfront when Blue Cross states you cannot collect deductibles or co-insurance until EOBs are processed?
A. You cannot collect “up-front.” Check your provider contract for details. (Marty Kotlar, DC, CHCC, CBCS)
Q. What happens when an insurance company does not pay within 45 days and they use the excuse “They are not an insurance company they are privately owned and do not have to follow insurance laws?”
A. File a compliant with the insurance commissioner in your state. Also, contact your state association’s attorney and let them take legal action against the carrier. (Marty Kotlar, DC, CHCC, CBCS)
Q. As a Time of Service/Cash Practice, once the collection is made, should we provide the patient a paper receipt with fees and codes, or a HCFA form with fees and codes?
A. Give the patient the requested information. (Marty Kotlar, DC, CHCC, CBCS)
Q. Prepaying has been mentioned a number of times, how do you account for a patient with a co-pay that is a percentage of services billed?
A. Check with your state board to see if pre-pays are legal. If yes, get their recommendations in writing. (Marty Kotlar, DC, CHCC, CBCS)
Q. Are there privacy issues with keeping a credit card on file in the doctor’s office?
A. Yes, there may be. Storing patient credit card data (credit card numbers) in a logbook, file cabinet, tickler-reminder system, or spreadsheet with the purpose of entering them into a credit card machine every month may be a violation of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). Click here for more info: https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/. (Marty Kotlar, DC, CHCC, CBCS)
