Billing & Collections

You’ve got questions - lots of ’em. And we’ve got the answers. We compiled some of the most common practice management questions we hear - from collections issues to dealing with staff problems and so much more - in one place, and got answers from some of the top experts in the business.

Times are tough, and layoffs may be unavoidable. If you must do it, here’s how to do it right - while protecting your practice from litigation.

The best measure of physician productivity is the “relative value unit,” or RVU. But a physician trying to figure out how much she’ll be paid under this system doesn’t know where to start, or even what an RVU is. Here’s help.

With more of today's young doctors starting their careers deeply in debt for medical school, there are ways to dig out and come out on top.

In many practices, partner conflict is as common as nasal infections. It may be easy to “let it go,” but that can lead to unprofessional conduct. Here’s how to diffuse disagreements and preempt disputes.

The EHR stimulus has physicians and vendors alike buzzing. But are they asking the right questions, or just looking for a handout?

A little price comparison can help you save big bucks on common goods and services.

Deciding how much to dole out to support staff can be tricky, especially in a difficult economy. But our survey of more than 1,000 practices nationwide will help guide you.

With prices low, it may seem like a great time to buy your office space. Be wary; the advantages to ownership, while real, are balanced with disadvantages and risk. Make sure your eyes are open.

Safeway, a grocery chain with 200,000 employees in 22 states, claims that it held its employee healthcare costs flat for three years running. How, you might ask? Read on for more about this radical program.

The biggest blunders of affluent investors - and how to avoid them.

Ah, those advice-seeking loved ones: You gotta love ’em, but they can be a major a nuisance - and even a legal risk. Here’s how to draw the line and still get invited for dinner.

Summer vacation season is upon us. Here’s how to keep your practice running when your skeleton crew asks for time off.

Are medical practices more or less likely today to offer patients a payment plan to help them cover their increasing out-of-pocket costs? Such doctor-arranged payment plans would have significant advantages for so-called “self-pay” patients, many of whom charge out-of-pocket costs on high-interest credit cards.

I just got a refund request from a payer. It’s for close to $1,000 for a patient we saw from 2004 to 2007. The payer now says the patient wasn’t eligible then. We checked, and it turns out the patient actually was on a Medicaid managed care plan and was not with the payer we billed. Still, Medicaid won’t consider claims from 2004. I just do not know what my options are. Are there any regulations to prevent this?

Appeal Letter Justifying Fee Schedule as Fair and Reasonable

Assignment of Benefits

Here is a sample collections letter to use at your medical practice.

If you can't verify a patient's insurance, their signature on this form shows they know they are responsible for payment.

One partner wants to retire; the other two want to buy him out. The only problem: They can’t agree on the terms, and things are getting heated.

Of all Wal-Mart’s innovations, the most surprising is its plan to sell EMRs off the shelf. Few private practices use EMRs - most cite cost as the biggest hurdle. Can Wal-Mart really make a difference?

How is the recession likely to affect your practice? And what can you do to soften the blow?

Playing the market without a broker is risky. Is it worth the gamble?

I have a new practice. We have been open for three months now, and I am finally starting to see insurance payments come in. What benchmark should I use to see if we are in line with other offices?

The practice I currently work for has always billed Medicare exactly what Medicare pays. Is there a downside to doing this? Does Medicare place you in another pay bracket? It does keeps the A/R lower than if we charged our fee schedule, but I want to make sure it does not have negative consequences.

I started an urgent care clinic. The insurance companies will not recognize us even though I have gone through the expense to make the facility equal to a small ER. How do I get acceptance from the insurance companies?

This time, it's back with a quality twist.

What kinds of insurance do you need - and how much? We answer the eternal questions.

If you accept credit cards, and you should, you’ll want to be aware of these hidden fees that card processors charge.

An in-demand psychiatrist needs help leveraging his popularity for a more appropriate fee schedule.