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A blue binder with the word policies written on the spine and a green binder with the word procedure written on the spine. Both sitting on a piece of paper featuring a flow chart
A blue binder with the word policies written on the spine and a green binder with the word procedure written on the spine. Both sitting on a piece of paper featuring a flow chart

COLLECTION POLICY

Purpose: To provide guidelines for billing and collection activity to maintain a sound financial position, thus affording the hospital necessary resources to maintain the best health care services possible to our service area.

Registration: Patient will be pre-registered whenever possible. Patient registration will contain all necessary information that may be pertinent and valuable to the follow-up and collectability of the account receivable. The information requirements should be pertinent to internal and external collection capability.

Insurance: Patients who have hospitalization insurance must provide proof of insurance coverage upon registration or pre-registration. Patients having insurance are requested to assign benefits to the hospital. If patient's insurance cannot be verified, the patient will be responsible for their bill. The hospital will bill all insurance companies in a timely manner. All insurance claims become the patient's responsibility if unpaid after 45 days of filing the claim.

Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross & Commercial:
All unpaid claims will be followed up after 30 days from date of filing. Secondary insurance that has been provided to the hospital will be filed. Any co-insurance, deductibles, spend-downs and non-covered items that are not paid by insurance are the responsibility of the patient.

Worker's Compensation:
After authorization from the employer, claims will be sent to the employer's worker's compensation insurance carrier.

Non-insured Patients:
If payment in full cannot be made at time of service, arrangements need to be made with the Business Office. A detailed bill will be sent out within 10 days from date of service.

STATEMENTS
Statements will be sent on a 30-day cycle. The second statement is sent with a "Past Due" notice if no payment has been made. At this time, the statement may include a financial agreement option that the patient may enter into. The third month without payment, the statement is stamped with "Final Notice" or referred to an attorney, small claims or other source of collection.

When terms of financial arrangements are not met, the account becomes delinquent and is subject to further collection activity.

The Collection Policy and the Financial Assistance Program Policy ONLY covers the physicians from Sabetha Family Practice group.

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