Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Question: My work in our gastroenterology practice is to handle the collection of past due co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance as well as the coding and claims. My question is whether or not I can send extremely delinquent accounts to the credit bureau or a collections agency even if the patient is paying a few dollars a month and our practice didn't agree to a payment plan?   Washington Subscriber Answer: Yes, you can send information about delinquent accounts to collections agencies and/or credit bureaus -- even if the patient is making a token attempt to pay up. If the patient is following a repayment schedule that you haven't approved, then you have the right to insist on a quicker repayment. How it works:  If a patient is paying a small amount every month that was not approved, many practices do send them to collections, and the collection agency may or may [...]