How often should patients receive a billing statement?
The best practice is to send out balance statements at regular intervals, such as every 30 days, and to make sure they include all outstanding balances. It's also important to make sure the statements are easy to understand, include a due date and provide clear instructions on how to make payments.
Patient Statement Generation
The optimal way to send out patient statements is to divide your patients into four equal groups and to bill each group once each week in a monthly cycle.
Patients will receive a monthly bill from the medical practice even after the account has been turned over to a third-party collection agency.
When should patient invoices (statements) be sent to the patient? As soon as the RA is posted and a balance is transferred to the patient's account.
For patients who have outstanding balances, a general frequency is sending statements to them monthly until the balance is cleared.
An official bank statement is typically sent by the bank to the account holder every month, summarizing all the account's transactions during the month. Bank statements contain bank account information, such as account numbers and a detailed list of deposits and withdrawals.
You should also update them any time there is a change in the patient's health status or a new drug is introduced to their current medication regimen. If you want to be extra safe, you can have every patient update their medical history form at each visit or you can walk back the frequency from there if you so choose.
A billing cycle, or billing period, is the length of time between the last statement closing date and the next. Most financial products that require monthly payments, such as credit cards, student loans and auto loans, have billing cycles.
They should report monthly, preferably on the billing cycle date. For credit card companies, this is usually the day that they issue your charges for the most recent billing cycle, also known as your statement date.
A billing statement is a monthly report that credit card companies issue to credit card customers showing their recent transactions, minimum payment due, and other relevant information. Billing statements are typically issued at the end of each monthly billing cycle and cardholders can receive them by mail or online.
What should a billing statement to a patient include?
- Payment due date.
- “Checks Payable To” and “Address to Mail Payments” indicated clearly.
- The address of a website where a patient can pay online.
- A section for patients to write credit card information to be processed in the office.
- A phone number for patients to call if they have billing questions.
Preregistration. Preregistration is the first and most vital step in the revenue cycle process. Preregistration allows the medical practice to capture demographic information, insurance information and eligibility in real-time through a clearinghouse, often while the patient is still on the phone.
If electronic fund transfers (EFTs) can be made to or from your account, banks must provide statements at least monthly summarizing any EFTs that occurred each month. The statements include information about each transaction, including transaction-related fees, and beginning and ending account balances.
An account statement is a periodic summary of account activity with a beginning date and an ending date. The most commonly known are checking account statements, usually provided monthly, and brokerage account statements, which are provided monthly or quarterly.
Keep For One Year
A good rule of thumb is to keep your monthly statements for the current year, and then shred them once you've reconciled them with an annual statement. The exception is any statement needed for tax purposes – those get grouped into the “keep for seven years” category.
The best practice is to send out balance statements at regular intervals, such as every 30 days, and to make sure they include all outstanding balances. It's also important to make sure the statements are easy to understand, include a due date and provide clear instructions on how to make payments.
The cycle date is when your statement's billing period ends (also known as a statement closing date). When your statement cycles, this generates your billing statement. The date can vary slightly from one month to the next. The reason for this variance is because statements won't close on a weekend or holiday.
A credit card's billing cycle is the approximately one-month period between statements' closing dates. Also called a billing period or statement period, your new transactions during this time will impact your next credit card bill.
We recommend reviewing your authorization forms every few years or so however, to confirm none of the data has changed and anytime an outside event would require a new form (such as a name change, patient who turns 18, or other scenario).
CMS requires that providers submitting cost reports retain all patient records for at least five years after the closure of the cost report. And if you're a Medicare managed care program provider, CMS requires that you retain the patient records for 10 years.
How often should an update be made to the patient's medical record?
How often should a medical history be updated? An update should be accomplished at least once a year, or whenever the patient has a major change in health.
What is a statement? While an invoice relates to a specific transaction, a statement can cover multiple transactions. It's a document used when buyers owe the business money on account. The statement is a current report showing the customer's account status, reflecting payments already made and outstanding invoices.
Credit card issuers must adopt reasonable procedures designed to ensure that they mail or electronically deliver statements at least 21 days before the payment due date. Review your account agreement for policies specific to your bank and your account.
A billing statement is a document that summarizes the financial transactions between a customer and a company during a specific period. It includes all the purchases, payments, fees, and interest charged to the account during the billing cycle.
A billing cycle—also called a billing period or a statement period—is the time between two statement closing dates. At the end of a billing cycle, your transactions from the billing period and previous balances are added together to determine your statement balance.
References
- https://www.kotak.com/en/help-center/bank-account/delivery-checkbook-statements/how-frequently-do-you-send-a-statement-.html
- https://www.solutionreach.com/blog/how-often-should-patients-receive-a-billing-statement
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/15-3-credit-card-payment/
- https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mlnpodcastmedicalrecordretentionandmediaformatpdf
- https://www.coursehero.com/file/40794643/CHAPTER-8docx/
- https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/health-insurance/patients-bill-of-rights
- https://www.dentalintel.com/blog-posts/when-should-a-medical-history-form-be-updated-heres-everything-you-need-to-know
- https://www.invoicera.com/blog/invoicing/how-to-create-a-professional-billing-statement/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/does-medical-debt-affect-credit-score/
- https://www.truevault.com/protected-health-information
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/what-is-a-credit-card-closing-date
- https://www.upguard.com/blog/most-common-hipaa-violations
- https://help.earnest.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011526993-What-is-the-difference-between-my-billing-date-and-my-payment-date
- https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/pesky-bank-fees-and-how-to-avoid-them
- https://www.paubox.com/blog/can-healthcare-providers-share-phi-with-debt-collectors
- https://somed.ucdenver.edu/ilios/learnmat/86688/How%20to%20Write%20a%20Medical%20Note%20for%20Foundations%202017-2018.pdf
- https://thelawdictionary.org/article/how-to-write-a-legal-statement-of-fact/
- https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/nursingfundamentals/chapter/3-3-patients-bill-of-rights/
- https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/reference-materials/bill-of-rights/
- https://www.hipaajournal.com/accidental-hipaa-violation/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/what-is-a-billing-cycle/
- https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/hipaa/index.html
- https://www.creditonebank.com/articles/credit-card-payment-due-date-vs-statement-closing-date
- https://officehelp.amkaicloud.com/Modules/Financial_MGT/Patient_Ledger/About_Patient_Ledger.htm
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/statement-balance-vs-current-balance/
- https://www.house.gov/the-house-explained/the-legislative-process/bills-resolutions
- https://www.template.net/editable/13492/free-billing-statement-letter
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit-cards/articles/-/learn/credit-card-reporting-credit-bureaus/
- https://www.docuclipper.com/blog/bank-statement/
- https://practiceforces.com/blog/is-billing-information-protected-under-hipaa/
- https://www.creditkarma.com/money/i/how-to-get-a-bank-statement
- https://compliancy-group.com/hipaa-compliant-patient-communication/
- https://www.zdnet.com/finance/credit-cards/how-do-credit-card-billing-cycles-work/
- https://luxsci.com/blog/is-electronic-medical-billing-information-hipaa.html
- https://smartasset.com/checking-account/6-sneaky-bank-fees-and-how-to-avoid-them
- https://www.owens-minor.com/glossary/what-is-bill-only/
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/will-paying-off-my-credit-card-balance-every-month-improve-my-score-en-1293/
- https://www.quora.com/By-mistake-I-have-paid-my-credit-card-bill-twice-will-I-get-refund
- https://www.sage.com/en-gb/blog/glossary/what-is-an-invoice-payment/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/when-is-the-best-time-to-pay-my-credit-card-bill/
- https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/best-time-to-make-a-credit-card-payment
- https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2004/0300/p31.html
- https://abyde.com/hipaa-authorization-form/
- https://www.accountingtools.com/articles/what-is-a-statement-of-account.html
- https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/statement
- https://www.nordistechnologies.com/blog/keeping-medical-billing-and-payments-private-and-secure/
- https://www.lbmc.com/blog/revenue-cycle-healthcare-practice/
- https://www.ifaxapp.com/blog/hipaa-rules-for-medical-billing-faq/
- https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/help-topics/credit-cards/payments/making-payments/making-payments-statement.html
- https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/card-smarts/is-it-good-to-pay-credit-card-early/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bank-statement.asp
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/statement-balance-vs-current-balance-the-difference-and-why-it-matters/
- https://www.quora.com/How-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-bank-statement
- https://www.fundingoptions.com/knowledge/how-to-download-bank-statements/
- https://www.ifaxapp.com/hipaa/is-venmo-hipaa-compliant/
- https://quizlet.com/454933284/mod-2-ch-17-qs-flash-cards/
- https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html
- https://www.paisabazaar.com/banking/bank-statement/
- https://yesinvoice.com/business-guide/what-is-an-invoice/invoice-definition/difference-invoice-bill-receipt/
- https://www.greenwayhealth.com/knowledge-center/greenway-blog/patient-statements-5-tips-and-4-challenges
- https://happay.com/blog/billing-statement/
- https://www.brookingshealth.org/why-brookings-health/health-care-value/understanding-medical-prices/charge-cost-price
- https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/privacy-protection-billing-and-health-insurance-communications/2016-03
- https://www.eztexting.com/resources/sms-resources/is-a-text-message-considered-written-notice
- https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/basics/statement-balance-vs-current-balance
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/account-statement.asp
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/does-my-bankcredit-union-have-to-send-me-a-monthly-statement-for-my-checking-account-en-965/
- https://factorialhr.com/blog/hipaa-violations-in-the-workplace/
- https://www.hipaajournal.com/is-venmo-hipaa-compliant/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/current-balance-vs-statement-balance/
- https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/advice/statement-balance-vs-current-balance/
- https://www.perimeter81.com/blog/compliance/hipaa-violations
- https://quizlet.com/60009243/billing-and-collections-unit-flash-cards/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/bank-paper-statement-fee
- https://smartasset.com/checking-account/how-to-get-a-bank-statement
- https://www.fibe.in/blogs/how-to-get-a-bank-statement-without-net-banking-credentials/
- https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/customer-statements/create-billing-statement/L8YJEsTP6_US_en_US
- https://www.hipaaguide.net/is-zelle-hipaa-compliant/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-billing-cycle/
- https://www.dbs.com/digibank/in/articles/save/how-to-check-bank-statement-online
- https://quizlet.com/345126369/medical-billing-chapter-10-quiz-flash-cards/
- https://www.zoho.com/books/guides/what-is-a-statement-of-accounts.html
- https://www.quora.com/Can-I-take-my-bank-account-statement-from-another-branch
- https://juro.com/learn/invoice-vs-contract
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/paying-credit-card-early/
- https://www.bankofamerica.com/deposits/account-statements-faqs/
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/what-is-a-billing-cycle/
- https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/bank-statements
- https://gocardless.com/guides/posts/what-is-the-difference-between-invoice-and-statement/
- https://www.thesuperbill.com/blog/what-is-patient-responsibility-codes-pricing-and-patient-liability
- https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/help-topics/bank-accounts/statements-records/statement-required.html
- https://revcycleintelligence.com/features/exploring-the-fundamentals-of-medical-billing-and-coding
- https://aplusfcu.org/blog/keep-or-toss-how-long-should-i-hang-onto-my-financial-documents
- https://www.dentistryiq.com/practice-management/insurance/article/16363283/medical-history-an-offices-responsibility
- https://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/hipaa-billing/
- https://statrys.com/blog/statement-vs-invoice
- https://quizlet.com/570668600/hipaa-flash-cards/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/billing-statement.asp
- https://www.skynova.com/learn/invoicing/difference-between-invoice-and-statement
- https://www.genio.ac/glossary/proof-of-billing/
- https://gocardless.com/en-us/guides/posts/what-is-a-billing-cycle/
- https://hipaatrek.com/hipaa-compliance-documentation/
- https://quizlet.com/404156179/billing-and-collections-flash-cards/
- https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/business/hub/statement-vs-invoice.html
- https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/basics/credit-card-billing-cycles-explained
- https://www.practicefusion.com/medical-charts/
- https://moneyview.in/beginners-guide-managing-money/download-bank-statement-pdf-en
- https://www.freshbooks.com/hub/invoicing/is-an-invoice-legal-document
- https://prognocis.com/medical-billing-software/patient-statements/
- https://paytm.com/blog/bank-passbook/ways-to-get-a-bank-passbook-statement-easily/
- https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/help-topics/personal-auto-loans/loan-interest-rates/loan-interest-residual.html
- https://www.sumup.com/en-gb/invoices/invoicing-essentials/the-difference-between-an-invoice-and-a-bill/
- https://quizlet.com/503256769/medical-billing-chapter-14-flash-cards/
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit-cards/articles/-/learn/should-i-pay-off-my-credit-card-in-full-each-month/
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-statement
- https://www.business4beginners.co.uk/refuse-to-pay-an-invoice/
- https://www.usbank.com/customer-service/knowledge-base/KB0069830.html
- https://etactics.com/blog/is-zelle-hipaa-compliant
- https://digitalhealth.folio3.com/blog/10-components-of-a-medical-record/
- https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/access/index.html
- https://www.freshbooks.com/hub/accounting/statement-of-account
- https://quizlet.com/87523535/mda-chapter-62-recalls-flash-cards/
- https://rockpapercoin.com/are-invoices-legally-binding/
- https://www.wkw.com/indianapolis-medical-malpractice-lawyers/blog/doctor-patient-confidentiality/
- https://quizlet.com/538748311/patient-bill-of-rights-flash-cards/
- https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/definition/personal-health-information
- https://www.freshbooks.com/hub/invoicing/invoice-vs-statement
- https://www.quora.com/Where-can-I-get-my-debit-card-statement-by-displaying-my-name-and-address
- https://www.tebra.com/theintake/getting-paid/rcm-and-claims/patient-billing-statement-in-medical-billing
- https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/statement
- https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bill
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/medical-bills-on-credit-report