Practice Management Alert

Question: Is it an acceptable practice for our anesthesia group to collect upfront co-pays? One of our providers returned from a conference, saying she’d spoken with other providers who were collecting co-pays and deductibles upfront from scheduled anesthesia patients. If so, how does it work?

New Jersey subscriber

Answer: Many experts recommend collecting either all or a portion of what you know will be due upfront as a good proactive collections practice. Some specialty physician groups collect patient co-pays and co-insurance payments prior to surgery and refuse to render services unless they’re paid. Some also collect deductibles, though others just focus on insurance payments. If you decide to collect co-pays and/or co-insurance and deductibles upfront, put your policy in writing and educate patients about what they should expect and how the process is handled.

If you collect co-insurance payment up front, you’ll receive an estimated amount. There might still be a balance for the patient to cover afterward, which is why some billing experts suggest getting a credit card on file. Be sure you let patients know this as well so they are not surprised to get another bill. Every practice needs to decide if upfront collections will work for them, but any practice, regardless of specialty, can collect before rendering services. The only exception would be if your payer contracts forbid it.