Practice Management Alert

You Be the Billing Expert:

Unfortunately Death Doesn't Eliminate Bills

Question: We have several self-pay patients who are elderly and frequently patients pass away before they can pay their bill. Some of those bills are extensive and our practice just can't afford to let them go. Is there any way we can collect? Florida Subscriber Answer: While your practice may not want to seem insensitive, business is business, and your practice should pursue the collection on the outstanding bills. You'll need to find out about the deceased patient's estate. In many states when a person dies, anyone who is owed anything by the deceased can file a claim against the estate within a certain time limit. Beware: Once the time limit is up, you cannot file anything against the estate and you must write off the bad debt, so you need to work fast. To find out what the law is in your state, contact a trust and estates attorney [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in Revenue Cycle Insider
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more

Other Articles in this issue of

Practice Management Alert

View All