1. Collections in the Medical Office10
Collections in the Medical Office
Lecture 2

2. 10.4 Working with Collection Agencies
10-11
A collection agency is an outside firm hired to collect on delinquent accounts
Practice no longer contacts the patient if the account is turned over to a collection agency
Often paid on the basis of the amount of money they collect
When payment is received from a collection agency, it must be posted to the patient’s account
Information found on the statement provided by the agency
Exercise 10-1
Learning Outcome: 10.4 Demonstrate how to post a payment from a collection agency.
Pages:
The agency provides a statement that shows which patient accounts have paid, and the amounts of the payments.
Perform Exercise 10-1

3. 10.5 Writing Off Uncollectible Accounts
10-12
When all collection attempts are exhausted, the collection process is ended
Amount owed is often called an uncollectible account or a bad debt, and it is written off the practice’s expected accounts receivable
A write off is a balance that has been removed from a patient’s account
Exercise 10-2
Learning Outcome: 10.5 Discuss the process of writing off uncollectible accounts.
Pages:
Perform Exercise 10-2

4. 10.6 Using a Patient Aging Report for Collections
10-13
An aging report shows the patient’s chart number and name, and the amount of unpaid charges in each of these categories:
Current: Up to 30 days
Past: 31 to 60 days
Past: 61 to 90 days
Past: 91 to 120 days
Past: More than 120 days
Exercise 10-3
Learning Outcome: 10.6 Explain how to use a patient aging report to identify past due accounts.
Pages:
Used monitor collection activities for patients and insurance.
The collection process begins with an analysis of the aging report, which shows the status of each account over time.
Perform Exercise 10-3

5. 10.7 Adding an Account to the Collection List
10-14
Overdue accounts are added to a collection list
The collection list is designed to track activities that need to be completed as part of the collection process
Ticklers or collection reminders are displayed as collection list items
A tickler is a reminder to follow-up on an account that is entered on the collection list
Learning Outcome: 10.7 Demonstrate how to add an account to the collection list.
Pages:
Collection List located on Activities menu.

6. 10.7 Adding an Account to the Collection List (Continued)
10-15
The Collection List dialog box displays ticklers that have been entered into the database
Learning Outcome: 10.7 Demonstrate how to add an account to the collection list.
Pages:

7. 10.7 Adding an Account to the Collection List (Continued)
10-16
Tickler Item dialog box
Exercise 10-4
Tickler tab
Office Notes tab
Learning Outcome: 10.7 Demonstrate how to add an account to the collection list.
Pages:
A new tickler item is created by pressing the New button in the Collection List dialog box.
Once a new tickler has been saved, the program automatically assigns a unique identifier code to the item.
For patient-responsible ticklers, the balance is the balance shown in Transaction Entry.
Perform Exercise 10-4

8. 10.8 Creating Collection Letters
10-17
Before collection letters can be sent in Medisoft:
Patient-responsible tickler item must be entered in the collection list
Collection Letter report must be created
Report is generated when the Patient Collection Letters option is selected on the Reports menu
Learning Outcome: 10.8 Demonstrate how to create a collection letter.
Pages:

9. 10.8 Creating Collection Letters (Continued)
10-18
The Patient Collection Report lists patients with overdue accounts to whom statements have been mailed
Learning Outcome: 10.8 Demonstrate how to create a collection letter.
Pages:

10. 10.8 Creating Collection Letters (Continued)
10-19
After printing collection letters, an account alert appears in the Transaction Entry, Quick Ledger, and Appointment Entry windows
There are three account alert abbreviations:
RB – remainder balance
DP – delinquent on payment plan
IC – in collections
Exercise 10-5
Learning Outcome: 10.8 Demonstrate how to create a collection letter.
Pages:
Perform Exercise 10-5

11. 10.9 Creating a Collection Tracer Report
10-20
A collection tracer report is used to keep track of collection letters that were sent
The report lists:
Tickler item number
Responsible party
Chart number
Account balance
Date collection letter was sent
Reasons the account is in collections
Created via the Collection Tracer Report feature on the Reports menu
Exercise 10-6
Learning Outcome: 10.9 Demonstrate how to create a collection tracer report.
Pages:
Perform Exercise 10-6