Don’t say – “all the details should be obtained”.
Say “all the details MUST be obtained”.
In other words, turn “should” into a must. But why is this so important? And why must you do it every day?
IMPORTANT!
Many clients have asked why mhm obtains payment so quickly from insurance companies or from a self-funding patient.
The number one reason is that I don’t use the word “should”.
I use the word must.
Must
And that is why it is so important – the consultant surgeon gets paid quicker. When I work alongside a medical secretary – the most underappreciated person in any medical practice normally – I emphasise the absolute need to get all the patient’s details.
For example: make sure the details are correct, make sure the patient’s policy number is correct, make sure the patient’s date of birth and postcode are correct.
When should this be done? NOW. It should be done every single time you have a patient in front of you or are reviewing a patients details.
Once all the details are correct – as they must be – the chances of getting paid increase dramatically.
This isn’t done in an aggressive manner at all. Far from it. In fact, 99.9% of all med-secs understand the reasons why and are only too glad to help. Most likely because most med-secs do not like “accounts” or “having to chase for money”
In other words, it is a state of mind. It is a state of mind supported by the very strict adherence to a number of routines.
Actually the word routine itself is not strong enough.
Discipline
It’s a discipline.
It is the discipline to make sure all the details are obtained when the patient registers.
It’s the discipline to make sure the clinic list is sent down to me every single week.
And finally, it’s a discipline to make sure all the invoices are raised, checked and delivered either to an insurance company or direct to a self-funding patient.
And that’s why mhm clients get paid so quickly.
pete@medicalhealtcharemanagement.co.uk