CS205 Wk 7 Heather Johnson
1. List five main items that should be inspected on each personal check before accepting payment.
A:
1. Payee information-Make sure the check is written out to the correct person/office and all information is spelled correctly.
2. Date of payment-Be sure the correct date is written in. If it is a postdated check, contact the patient to make sure it is ok for you to deposit the check to avoid any bank fees for an NSF check.
3. Numeric dollar amount-check to make sure the correct amount is written in and matches the amount that is spelled out.
4. Signature-checks must be signed or the bank will not accept them.
5. Name and address of the payer. Make sure the patients name, address and phone number is on the check and correct.
2. When a patient has a primary and/or secondary insurance, explain why the balance due may appear delinquent even though the account is current (not late)
A: This could be due to a time lag. The primary insurance needs to receive and process the claim and submit a payment to the office. The office needs to receive it, process and post that payment and then prepare and submit the claim to the secondary insurance. The secondary insurance needs to receive and process the claim for payment as well. All of that takes time and that could cause a past due balance to reflect on an account when in reality, it is still be processed, not just remaining unpaid.
3. Explain the importance of offering patients alternative methods of paying a balance.
A: Some patients may be experiencing a financial difficulty and cannot pay a balance in its entirety. By offering other payment options like setting up a payment plan where the patient agrees to pay a portion of their balance by a certain date each month or week, allows them to pay their bill but not add further financial strain or stress on the patient. The patient is still meeting their obligation, the office still gets paid and it allows for a good relationship to continue between the patient and
A:
1. Payee information-Make sure the check is written out to the correct person/office and all information is spelled correctly.
2. Date of payment-Be sure the correct date is written in. If it is a postdated check, contact the patient to make sure it is ok for you to deposit the check to avoid any bank fees for an NSF check.
3. Numeric dollar amount-check to make sure the correct amount is written in and matches the amount that is spelled out.
4. Signature-checks must be signed or the bank will not accept them.
5. Name and address of the payer. Make sure the patients name, address and phone number is on the check and correct.
2. When a patient has a primary and/or secondary insurance, explain why the balance due may appear delinquent even though the account is current (not late)
A: This could be due to a time lag. The primary insurance needs to receive and process the claim and submit a payment to the office. The office needs to receive it, process and post that payment and then prepare and submit the claim to the secondary insurance. The secondary insurance needs to receive and process the claim for payment as well. All of that takes time and that could cause a past due balance to reflect on an account when in reality, it is still be processed, not just remaining unpaid.
3. Explain the importance of offering patients alternative methods of paying a balance.
A: Some patients may be experiencing a financial difficulty and cannot pay a balance in its entirety. By offering other payment options like setting up a payment plan where the patient agrees to pay a portion of their balance by a certain date each month or week, allows them to pay their bill but not add further financial strain or stress on the patient. The patient is still meeting their obligation, the office still gets paid and it allows for a good relationship to continue between the patient and