What Happens If a Medical Bill Goes to Collections?

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the American economy. People have lost jobs, and entire industries have suffered. However, experts predict that with vaccines rolling out, the economy will start to recover slowly but surely, especially because the American mRNA-1273 vaccine has over 94.5% efficacy against COVID-19.

In the meantime, the health care industry is under pressure. Now, more than ever, running a medical practice is incredibly challenging due to the following reasons:

• Costs are rising rapidly
• Elective procedures are being postponed or canceled
• Patients are under financial strain
• Government funding is only going so far

Many medical clients are turning to Summit A*R for our medical debt collection services in order to collect revenue, pay essential costs, and remain operational. Here is what happens if a medical bill goes to Summit Collects for recovery.

Diplomacy and Compassion

At Summit A*R, we’re renowned for our medical, dental, rental, consumer, and commercial collection services because we approach each account with diplomacy. However, during these unprecedented times, we’re extra sensitive with medical accounts because we realize that times are difficult.

We know that your former patients want to pay their dues. We help them find a way. We try to make sure that everyone is satisfied with our services. Of course, you can read the testimonials on our website and see that clients and debtors are pleased with how we do things.

Usually, we start with an official demand letter and a phone call. Surprisingly, many accounts are quickly resolved after these two effective measures. For more challenging debts, we rely on our skilled negotiation strategies. Using diplomacy, experience, sensitivity, and mediation, we often achieve a successful outcome with the debtor.

We can also report a medical debt to a credit bureau like Experian. However, this step isn’t taken lightly. If you don’t want us to report a medical debt to any or all of the major credit bureaus, we will respect your wishes completely. 

Here is what makes us uniquely suited to medical debt collection:

• We’re 100% full HIPAA-compliant in order to help preserve the privacy of your patients.
• We have a no-complaint policy.
• Our courteous, knowledgeable, and licensed staff has longevity in the industry. Many members of our team have been with us for over ten years.
• We are fully transparent — you can use our online portal to download reports, review payment activity, and track progress.
• We have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The coveted A+ rating is only given to businesses that maintain a record of excellence and strive to minimize customer complaints.
• Besides hospitals, we also help dental and veterinary clinics with their collection needs. 

What’s more, we don’t use aggressive tactics, nor do we lie to clients in order to pressure them. For example, many patients ask: can collection agencies charge interest on medical bills that are overdue? The answer, of course, is a resounding no.

Debt collectors cannot apply interest charges because this isn’t part of the contract. Please be wary of debt collection agencies that imply interest will be charged to pressure consumers!  

In addition, we’re members in good standing with leading debt collection organizations like the ACA International and the International Association of Commercial Collectors. What’s more, we also boast some strong medical affiliations:

American Association of Health Administrative Management

Founded in 1968 and based out of Fairfax, Virginia, this nonprofit is one of the foremost advocates for health care administrators. Its mission is to “provide education, certification, networking, and advocacy for healthcare revenue cycle professionals.”

One of the benefits the AAHAM provides its members is professional development. Through certifications, networking, publications, conferences and seminars, the AAHAM helps develop skills and knowledge for those associated with the health care industry.

Here at Summit A*R, we are one of the leading medical collection companies in the country, with recovery rates that are double the national average. We also boast some of the most renowned medical clients in the country. Being a member of AAHM gives us access to a wealth of information that helps us serve the specific demands of our clients in the medical community and to pursue collections with special insight.

Pre-Collection Services

You can easily pivot your medical debt collection by outsourcing your full collection needs to Summit A*R. We’re a company you can trust to represent you professionally and with no complaints from your patients.

Whether it’s patient billing, telephone follow-ups, insurance follow-ups, or simply helping patients understand why they have a balance, Summit A*R is the only agency we know of with a record this clean.

If you’re interested, give us a call at (888) 222-0793. We will design a system that will empower you to use your staff for collecting revenue ethically and effectively. With our services, you’ll gain professional help and still save money.

What Are the Statutes of Limitations?

If you’re trying to recover medical debt, then you must be wondering about the statute of limitations — especially if you’ve been chasing the debt for a long time. Whether there’s an expiry on the debt depends on two key factors:

• Location: Each state regulates its own statute of limitations on debt. The state in which your client lives may determine your time limit, even if you operate in another area of the country.
• Type: The type of debt — that is, whether it’s a verbal agreement, written contract, promissory note, or open-ended account like a credit card — will also determine the statute of limitations.

Of course, medical debt that exceeds the statute of limitations still exists on record for up to 7.5 years. While you can’t take any legal action against such an account, you can still contact the debtor to collect your dues. Remember, a partial payment may reset the clock in your state!

For more questions about our medical debt recovery process, please give us a call at (888) 222-0793. Alternatively, please send us a message through our platform. Our friendly and licensed team is standing by to help or answer any questions or concerns.