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Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Explore Options for Handling Late or No-Show Patients

Published on Wed Oct 27, 2010

Question: We have a few patients who routinely miss appointments or show up late. We'd like to emphasize the importance of keeping appointments without alienating the patients. Can we bill for no-show visits and/or charge a fee for being late?Illinois SubscriberAnswer:Whether you can bill for no-show visits or charge a late fee will depend on your payer contracts and the laws in your state. Some contracts prohibit no-show charges or fees unrelated to patient services. Check your contract and state laws, and if both allow such charges, go ahead and bill the patient for this inconvenience.Many practices charge a fee (such as $25) for missed appointments, but there are other options to consider. Here are some suggestions from other practices: If you charge for missed appointments or a certain number of late arrivals, post that information so patients are aware of the policy. Include notices on the registration form, in [...]
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