Summary
Often, medical practices want to outsource their statements to a clearinghouse that can process and mail the statements less expensively than they can internally. Weston has worked with single and multi-specialty practices to rebuild their statements to a format that is more patient-friendly.
The ongoing problem is that the group practice management system does not provide internal statement formatting that would facilitate the required changes. Medical groups need a mechanism for reformatting patient statements to be more user-friendly for the patient as well as creating fewer calls to the billing office. Weston has created a proven process to facilitate this technology change and we often propose it to our clients to streamline their statement process.
Solution
In one specific group, Weston created a new statement format that included the required information yet allowed the client's existing system to update statement counters, etc. This was accomplished by building the statement external to the group practice management system, while using that system's data. This system automated the transmission of the statement to the clearinghouse. This process provided the end user with a one button solution to generating statements. The attached page shows the difference in the original and new statement formats.
Benefit
The improved format is similar to a credit card statement, a format which is familiar to most patients, and has significantly reduced calls to the practice while increasing payments.
Many groups cling to the idea that they can purchase, print, stuff and mail statements in a less expensive manner than the mailing services. Weston believes this is not the case. You can contact your system vendor or an organization like Express Bill for more information. Weston can also provide special assistance to craft a statement that helps to increase your cash flow.
Contact us to implement a new statement process for your practice.
