Most offices have signs at their front desks that state, "Copayments are due at the time of service,"
For patients' convenience, the medical office should accept multiple forms of payment (e.g., cash, personal check, credit/debit card). To ensure payments are appropriately procured, offices should have policies for addressing patients who cannot pay their copayments at the time of service. Some offices allow patients
to mail their copayments or to discuss payment with the billing office.
Because the copay should be collected from the patient upon arrival in the medical office, here are some steps to help you become familiar with collecting payments at the front desk:
Step 1As the patient arrives at the front desk, check the computer or chart to verify the patient's copayment amount.
Step 2After registering the patient, let the patient know the amount of expected payment.
Step 3Ask the patient if
he or she would prefer to make the payment via cash, check, or credit card.
Step 4If the patient pays via cash, write a receipt from the cash receipt book.
Step 5If the patient pays via check, endorse the check with the bank endorsement stamp. Ask the patient if he or she would like a written receipt. If so, write a receipt from the cash receipt book.
Step 6If the patient pays via credit card, process the card on the credit card machine, have the patient sign the slip, and provide the
patient with their portion as a receipt.