Reader Question:
Ease the Pain of Confirming Patient Information
Published on Mon Feb 22, 2010
Question: We update important patient information,such as insurance, address, emergency contacts, etc., on a yearly basis. When we ask patients to fill out a new form or confirm their information, we seem to get a lot of negative reactions. Are there any ways to smooth out the process, for patients and for us? Ohio Subscriber Answer: There are as many opinions and methods as there are practices, so you'll ultimately have to find what works best for your practice. However, there are some common bits of information you'll need to ensure your billing is processed efficiently. The best way to confirm a patient's coverage is to ask to see her insurance card when she checks in at each and every visit. Be specific: Simply asking "Has your insurance changed?" could easily be responded to with a shrug and a "no." Asking a yes or no question opens up the possibility [...]