Q: Can a provider write off a deductible and coinsurance because a patient states he or she will not pay?
Patient Financial Services Weekly Advisor, May 7, 2004
A: I don't know why any provider would want to write off a patient's deductible or coinsurance balance simply because they have stated they will not pay. Deductibles, coinsurance, and copays should be established and collected up-front for elective services, eliminating the patient's opportunity to deny payment after services have been provided.
Adhere to the same procedure for all patients in the collection of balances, which typically can include a series of letters or mailers requesting payment, phone calls, and ultimately assignment to a collection agency.
This question was answered by Denise Dutwiler, partner at HRM, Inc., Dallas.
Related Products
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- HIPAA Q&A: Flu shot requirement for hospital employees
- HealthDataInsights posts new issues for medical necessity claims
- Running an effective peer review committee meeting
- Q&A: Incidental disclosures and patient privacy
- Sneak Peek: Effort underway to establish caseload benchmarks
- New FAQ posted on storing laryngoscope blades
- Tip: Perform your own internal investigation prior to government audit
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- HIPAA 5010 deadline extended, but threat remains, says AMA
- HHS task force: Consider privacy, security with text messages
- E-mailed
-
- Running an effective peer review committee meeting
- HIPAA Q&A: Flu shot requirement for hospital employees
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- HHS task force: Consider privacy, security with text messages
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Tip: Correctly code bilateral pain management procedures
- 2012 CPT code changes for ASCs: Shoulder and knee scopes and pain management
- COT basics to best
- Documentation and coding for toxic metabolic encephalopathy
- Guidance and tact key to compliant, effective physician queries
- Searched
