The importance of payment plans
For those patients
who can't pay up
front, payment plans
are essential. If the
plan is handled by
your facility, consider
getting the patient's
credit card on file and
establishing monthly
debits, says Mr. Rush.
Write down the terms
of the payment plan
and ensure patients
have a full understand-
ing of their responsi-
bilities. "For a lot of
patients, this is new to them," he says.
At Mr. Lipomi's centers, patients can choose a
1-year-or-less monthly payment plan that requires a signed promissory
note. "We just try to make it as easy as possible for the patient," he
says. "We can't change the deductible, but we can make the experi-
ence as painless as possible."
But you don't have to function as a bank if you don't want to. Third-
party companies that offer medical credit cards and loans pay you up
front and in full while patients make monthly payments to the outside
creditors. However, some have terms that can be complicated, says
Ms. Massey, so read the fine print before offering them to patients.
Having options is the best way to stay successful in the world of
high-deductible plans while providing good, quality care to patients
who need it, says Ms. Massey.
5 3
M A Y 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
z TALK EARLY Have conversations with patients on their
out-of-pocket responsibilities well before the day of surgery.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
