General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: One of our surgeons returned from a meeting, saying he had learned that we can collect co-pays and deductibles up front from scheduled patients. Is this an acceptable practice? If so, how does it work?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: Some physician groups do collect patient co-pays and co-insurance payments prior to surgery. Some also collect deductibles, though others just focus on insurance payments. Many experts recommend collecting upfront, either all or a portion of what you know will be due, as good, proactive collections practice. 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.

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.

Heads up: If you file for co-insurance payment up front, you’ll receive an estimated amount. There might still be a balance for the patient to cover afterward. Be sure you let patients know this as well, so they are not surprised to get another bill.