General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: We often have patients who don't pay their deductible after surgery. Is there a recommended way to collect these payments up front?South Dakota SubscriberAnswer: Yes, you may collect a deductible upfront. The first step is to confirm the deductible amount with the payer. Insurance verification services now make it possible for practices to determine if a patient has met his deductible, or how much deductible remains unpaid. Others provide just information on what the total annual deductible is. This information may also be found online. You usually can access updated information before the patient's scheduled procedure.Pointer: Before settling on the deductible due, check to see if the patient has Medigap coverage or other secondary insurance that will cover a portion of the payment. Then contact the patient to communicate what his responsibility may be. Try to speak with the patient about collecting the deductible several days, or even weeks, [...]