Handling payment from the client is the second most important part of a business process that will help ensure that you get paid for the services you provide.  Here are some simple steps that you can take to improve the chances you will be paid in full while maintaining a good relationship with your clients.  This is second in a series about how to get paid for the services you render:

Dealing with Insurance When Making the Appointment

• If you are accepting insurance as a form of payment, your staff should get the patient’s policy information and verify which of the services you plan to provide will be covered, how much they insurer will pay, whether they will be applying a co-pay, deductible, or other reduction, and who they will be sending the payment to.  Now you know how much the patient will be responsible for paying when services are rendered, how much the insurance carrier will pay (and where and when they will pay).
• Once you know how much the patient will be responsible for paying, you should communicate this to them – before services are rendered – and address any payment issues at that time, unless you have decided to render emergency services.

Credit Card Payment

• Your staff needs to get credit card authorizations for credit card charges at the time services are rendered.  If the client is physically present, swiping the card through a credit card terminal and getting a physical signature will minimize the cost of processing the charge and reduce the possibility of fraud.