In this episode, discover how pre-visit billing is transforming revenue cycles for healthcare and dental practices.

We explore how shifting payment collection to before appointments helps eliminate delayed payments, reduce administrative burdens, and boost cash flow. Learn how BillFlash PreBill empowers your practice by sending secure, upfront payment requests via text or email—ensuring patients know their costs in advance and helping you secure revenue faster. Say goodbye to surprise bills and endless follow-ups, and hello to improved financial clarity and enhanced patient satisfaction.

Ready to turn overdue payments into on-time collections? Tune in to this podcast episode today!

Transcript

Narrator: 00:00

Welcome to the Billing Blueprint Podcast, your go to resource for innovative medical billing solutions. Each episode we explore the latest industry trends and share proven strategies to help your practice streamline operations and get paid faster. Now here are your hosts, Brad and Sarah.

Sarah: 00:21

 Welcome back everybody to another deep dive. This time we're taking a closer look at the concept of pre visit billing in medical practices. And you know, you've probably heard some buzz about this trend. We're diving into this really fascinating article. It's called the game changing advantages of pre visit billing for your medical practice from Bill Flash. And you know, as someone who's clearly interested in the future of healthcare, you're probably already familiar with all the challenges around medical billing. Especially when you think about that statistic from the 2021 U.S. census Bureau survey that 15% of American households are dealing with medical debt.

Brad: 00:56

 Yeah, that's a huge problem.

Sarah: 00:57

 It's kind of wild, right?

Brad: 00:58

 It really is a big issue and it's fascinating to see how it kind of spreads out from there. I mean, when you think about it, when collection rates for people who have insurance drop down to 50 to 70% after a visit, that puts so much pressure on medical facilities to stay afloat.

Sarah: 01:13

 Yeah, that's a staggering number. It's hard to even fathom that. Right? So this idea of pre visit billing, where patients would get their bills before they even step foot in the doctor's office, it's supposed to help with this, right? But is it really just about getting rid of those surprise bills or is there more to it?

Brad: 01:30

 Oh, it's totally about being transparent and taking some of that financial worry off patients shoulders. But there's definitely more to it than just that. Gotta think about the psychology behind it. When patients see the cost right up front, it gives them a chance to actually plan their budget and sort of mentally get ready for that expense. And what often happens is they're more likely to actually pay because they're not hit with this unexpected bill that they might just try to ignore and hope it goes away.

Sarah: 01:56

 That makes a lot of sense. It's almost like when you buy a ticket to a concert in advance, you're way more likely to actually go because you've already put money down for it. But then could this whole knowing the cost upfront thing also scare some people away from getting the care they need? Especially those who might not have a lot of wiggle room in their finances.

Brad: 02:14

 You've hit on a really important point there. While the goal of this pre visit billing is to be more upfront and and make payments easier. There is a chance it could become a hurdle for some folks. And that's where it's so crucial to have those financial assistance options built right in, like sliding scale fees or payment plans. The ability for healthcare providers to look at a patient's financial situation beforehand and be proactive about offering these solutions. That's what makes pre visit billing work, right?

Sarah: 02:41

 That's a really great point. It's not just about sending out the bills earlier. It's about actually having a more well rounded and patient focused way of handling finances. But how does this all play out in different medical specialties? Like, do you think all of them can benefit equally from pre visit billing?

Brad: 02:57

 That's an interesting question. The basic idea applies across the board, but how it's put into practice might look different depending on the specialty. For stuff like routine checkups or specific tests, where the costs are usually pretty predictable, pre visit billing can be pretty straightforward. But for more complex cases or specialties where the treatment plan might change as things go along, it could get a bit trickier to figure out the pre billing.

Sarah: 03:23

 So we're not talking about a one size fits all approach here. It sounds like there are different models of pre visit billing.

Brad: 03:29

 Exactly. You've got estimate based billing where patients get a rough idea of the cost based on what they're scheduled for. And then you have actual cost billing where the final bill is worked out after the visit, taking into account any unexpected procedures or complexities.

Sarah: 03:43

 Okay, so there's definitely more to this than just sending out an invoice a bit earlier. It sounds like you need a system that can be adjusted to work with all the different types of health care services out there.

Brad: 03:52

 Absolutely. And that actually leads into another important thing. The article brings up. Data security. With all this extra financial information being passed around, how can these systems make sure that sensitive patient data is kept safe?

Sarah: 04:05

 Right, because cybersecurity and healthcare is a major concern these days. And it's not just about stopping those massive data breaches, but also about making sure individual patient information doesn't get leaked during those everyday transactions.

Brad: 04:18

 You're absolutely right. What's really interesting here is how Pre-visit billing systems use encryption methods and secure portals to protect data. Instead of sending sensitive details through regular mail or even email, patients get secure links that take them to these encrypted portals where they can see and manage their billing stuff.

Sarah: 04:37

 So it's like the difference between sending a postcard out in the open and putting something in a sealed envelope to keep it private. Right, but with digital stuff, that sealing gets a bit more complicated.

Brad: 04:46

 Yeah, it's way more complex than just putting a lock on a website. Right. It's like having a super complicated lock that only authorized people can open with a special key.

Sarah: 04:55

 So it's not just about hiding information behind a password, it's about adding layers of protection to make sure the data is safe from start to finish.

Brad: 05:02

 You got it. And any pre visit building platform worth its salt is going to have even more security measures on top of that, like multi factor authentication and regular security checks, just to be extra careful. They're basically building a fortress around patient data.

Sarah: 05:15

 It really sounds like these systems are going above and beyond when it comes to data security, which is definitely reassuring considering how many cyber attacks are targeting healthcare these days. But let's switch gears a bit and talk about what this means financially for medical practices. The article mentions a lot about boosting collection rates and cutting down on administrative headaches, but how does that actually play out in the real world?

Brad: 05:39

 Well, it's all about making the flow of revenue smoother and more predictable. Think about it. When patients pay upfront, you don't have to spend time and money chasing down payments or sending out reminders. Staff can concentrate on other important tasks and the practice's cash flow runs a lot smoother. This can be a game changer for smaller practices that might not have a whole team dedicated to just billing.

Sarah: 06:02

 That makes a lot of sense. It's not just about getting the money faster, it's about freeing up resources that can be used for other important things. But even though more revenue is generally a good thing, some might worry that pre visit billing could actually prevent some patients from getting care because of the upfront cost. How would you respond to that concern?

Brad: 06:19

 It's a valid concern for sure, and it really highlights how important it is to implement pre visit billing in a way that's sensitive to people's situations. It goes back to what we were talking about earlier with having those financial assistance options built right in. By figuring out which patients might need extra help and being upfront about payment plans or other ways to make it work, providers can make sure that the cost of care doesn't stop people from getting the treatment they need.

Sarah: 06:45

 So it's about turning what could be a really tough conversation about money into a chance to actually support support patients and make sure they get the care they deserve without adding a bunch of stress.

Brad: 06:55

 Exactly. It's about ditching that old way of doing things where the bill comes as a surprise after the fact and patients are left Scrambling to figure it out on their own. Instead, we need a system where money matters are dealt with up front in a straightforward way, and everyone is focused on finding solutions that benefit both the patient and the provider.

Sarah: 07:13

 That's a pretty big shift in perspective. It takes pre visit billing from just a way to get paid quicker to a way to build a stronger, more supportive relationship between patients and providers. Especially when it comes to the money side of things.

Brad: 07:27

 You hit the nail on the head and it actually ties into a bigger trend we're seeing in health care. The idea of treating patients more like consumers. People are used to clear pricing, easy payment options and personalized services in other areas of their lives. And they're starting to want the same from their health care providers.

Sarah: 07:44

 It's like what's happening with online shopping. You want to know exactly how much something costs, you want to pay with one click, and you want the whole process to be smooth and hassle free. It seems like healthcare is finally catching up with that.

Brad: 07:56

 Absolutely. And when you implement pre visit billing the right way, it can play a big part in making that happen. It's all about giving patients that financial transparency they're looking for, letting them control their healthcare spending and taking some of the fear out of the process.

Sarah: 08:12

 So it's not just about changing when the bills go out. It's about changing the whole conversation around what healthcare costs. And building a system that puts patients first is open and honest and ultimately fairer for everyone. But how does all of this change the healthcare system as a whole? We've talked about how good it can be for individual practices and patients. But what about the bigger picture?

Brad: 08:33

 Well, that's where things get really interesting. Just imagine a world where pre visit billing becomes the standard. It could mean a huge drop in medical debt, better financial stability for healthcare providers, and a smoother, more efficient healthcare system for everyone.

Sarah: 08:48

 That's a really exciting thought, but to get to that point, wouldn't we also need some big changes to the rules and how things are done in the industry?

Brad: 08:55

 Oh, absolutely. We need crystal clear guidelines about how to estimate costs, standard procedures for handling requests for financial assistance, and super strong data security rules that everyone has to follow. It would take a team effort between health care providers, insurance companies, and people who make the policies to create a system that really works for everyone.

Sarah: 09:15

 It's a huge challenge, but the potential payoff is enormous. It's about creating a health care system that can support itself financially, is easier for patients to navigate, and most importantly, is focused on providing top notch care without all the Confusion and hassle of complicated billing practices.

Brad: 09:35

 I couldn't agree more. It's a whole new way of looking at things and it could completely change how healthcare works.

Sarah: 09:41

 This has been such a fascinating look at pre visit billing. We've talked about the good, the bad, and how it could totally revolutionize the healthcare system. But before we wrap things up, I want to leave you with one last question to think about. So we've talked about how pre visit billing has the potential to really shake things up in healthcare payments. But it also brings up some pretty interesting questions about what comes next. As this whole trend keeps developing. What kind of impact might it have on whether people can actually get the care they need and how happy they are with it? Could there be some unintended consequences that we haven't even thought about yet?

Brad: 10:14

 That's a really thought provoking question. Even though the goal is to create a system that's more transparent and fair, there's always a chance that things could go in a direction we didn't expect. For example, could this focus on knowing the cost upfront lead to people using certain services less, especially preventative care? Like, if people are more worried about how much it's going to cost, they might decide to skip some things altogether.

Sarah: 10:39

 Yeah, I see what you mean. It's like that saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but if that ounce comes with a price tag attached, some people might be tempted to just skip it altogether. And that could actually lead to bigger, more expensive health problems later on down the road.

Brad: 10:53

 You got it. It's a tricky balance. We want patients to have all the information they need to make smart choices about their healthcare spending. But we also don't want to accidentally scare them away from getting the care they need. It really highlights how important it is to keep studying and watching how pre visit billing affects how people use healthcare across different age groups, income levels and backgrounds.

Sarah: 11:15

 So it's not enough to just set up a new billing system we have. We have to constantly check how it's working and make changes along the way to make sure it's actually achieving what it's supposed to do. Make healthcare a better experience for both patients and providers.

Brad: 11:29

 I couldn't agree more.

Sarah: 11:31

 But what about the human side of things? How might pre visit billing affect that relationship between patients and their doctors?

Brad: 11:37

 That's an important thing to consider. Being open and honest about costs right from the start could actually help build trust and create a stronger partnership between patients and providers. When patients know what to expect financially, they feel more in control. And doctors can focus on providing great care without worrying about billing disputes down the line.

Sarah: 11:59

 Yeah. It takes away that potential for conflict where the bill becomes the source of tension, and instead it turns it into a more collaborative thing where everyone's on the same page about the financial stuff. Yeah, but to get to that point, don't you think there needs to be a bit of a culture shift within healthcare?

Brad: 12:14

 Absolutely. For a long time, healthcare billing has been this big, complicated thing that leaves patients feeling confused and like they don't have any say. To really embrace pre visit billing, we need to move towards a system that's more transparent, where patients have more control and everyone is willing to talk openly about costs.

Sarah: 12:31

 It's about taking a system that's always been kind of reactive and hidden and turning it into something that's proactive, focused on the patient and built on clear communication.

Brad: 12:40

 Exactly. It's a big change. Yeah, but it's one that could make healthcare a much better experience for everyone involved.

Sarah: 12:45

 Well, this has been a really eye opening look at pre visit billing. We've talked about how it can simplify payments, give patients more control, and maybe even change the whole healthcare system as we know it. As this trend continues to gain momentum, it'll be fascinating to see how it shapes the future of healthcare and changes how we think about the financial side of this essential system. We hope this deep dive has given you some valuable insights and left you with some questions to ponder. Until next time, keep those brains buzzing.

Narrator: 13:13

Thanks for tuning into the Billing Blueprint podcast. For more insights or to dive deeper dive deeper into today's topics. Head over to billflash.com. Don't forget to subscribe and we'll catch you next week with more strategies to keep your practice running smoothly and getting paid faster.

Sources:

The Game-Changing Advantages of Pre-Visit Billing for Your Medical Practice