Using Text Messaging to Increase Your Payment Rates

Using Text Messaging to Increase Your Payment Rates

There is one feature of EZClaimPay that has received universal acclaim from our clients, and that is the ability to send SMS text message-based payment reminders to patients. By reaching patients where they are—on their phones—we’ve seen that billers can increase their payment rates and get paid more quickly. This feature has increased patient satisfaction too, reducing payment friction, and allowing them to make a payment in the EZClaim portal with one tap. One client told us:

“We sent out the first SMS payment requests last week, and within several hours had generated 9 payments for a total of over $2,400 back from the patients! The provider is thrilled. After 2 days we had over 11 payments and more than $2,600! What a testament to how well this payment option is for providers and patients.”

With the average business owed $300,000 in late payments, utilizing a two-pronged payment reminder approach is critical to reducing late payments. EZClaimPay automatically generates a payment portal link which can then be sent out via email or SMS. On average, emails receive a 25% open rate, while SMS messages have an average open rate of 98%. Text messaging has proven very effective, with high open rates and engagement rates. However, email notifications are not going away. In fact, using both mediums is the best way to get paid, as each has pros and cons. With email notifications, you get deliverability to every device that your client has, whether it is their computer or the email app on their phone or tablet. With SMS text messaging, you are only getting deliverability to one device, but it is the device that is most likely to be in their pocket right now. When it comes to time sensitive requests like payment reminders, the ability to use SMS text messaging is critical.

Why choose SMS text message payment reminders for patients?

Invoices get paid faster and are more convenient for patients

Reduce payment friction by making invoice payments seamless for customers. EZClaimPay generates a direct link to include in the email or SMS communication that allows your client to make a payment instantly. Making payments easy for patients is a quick and low-cost way to increase patient satisfaction and results in greater engagement overall.

Reach patients with ease

Patients are used to providing their phone numbers to providers, and it is the one piece of contact information that is most likely to be on file. Stop getting stuck in spam and go straight to notifications.

Time savings & reduced operational costs

It gets expensive having patient statements printed and mailed out multiple times. Don’t waste any more time following up with customers manually and making repeated phone calls they may not answer. Give patients a notification right in their pocket and let them pay in one tap with EZClaimPay.

There are so many benefits to using EZClaimPay, and specifically the SMS text messaging functionality for payment reminders. EZClaimPay allows patients to pay online, increase revenue, and a simplify the payment process. For more information contact us or call directly at 877.650.0904.

Best of 2021: EZClaim’s Most Read Articles

Best of 2021: EZClaim’s Most Read Articles

As we move into the new year, we wanted to take a moment to share the most popular articles of 2021. We’ve ranked them below so that you can be sure that you haven’t missed out on any resources that EZClaim clients have found useful in the past year.

Here are the most popular blog posts of 2021:

#1: Medical Billing Insights – Interview with ABA Billing Service

This interview was by far and away the most popular blog post over the past year. Jennifer and Maura provide some great insight and best practices, including their “investigative” approach to medical billing and the problem-solving skills that are necessary. Here is a summary of that article:

Are you working in the medical billing industry as a biller or an owner of a billing company? If so, the key medical billing insights and best practices that came out of our interview with Maura Jansen (VP of Operations) and Jennifer Withington (Director of Revenue) at Missing Piece Billing & Consulting Solutions will be very valuable for you to consider.

Jennifer, an expert in understanding the problem-solving techniques and the investigative nature of medical billing, offers insights that both educate and inspire. Maura, an executive member of the billing community, also added an important perspective about EZClaim’s medical billing software. The following are some highlights from our interview.

 

#2: Patient Information, Time Savings, and the EZClaim Eligibility Feature

Getting patient billing information quickly can be a big pain point, so it makes sense that this article was among the most read of the year. We walked through some tips and ticks for saving time including the EZClaim eligibility feature:

Can you add up the number of hours your billing team spent during any given week or month waiting on-hold with insurance companies to get patient billing information? Does your staff invest hours of their valuable time seeking out the smallest of details to get paid? Are you aware that integrated eligibility, through EZClaim’s medical billing software, can reduce that time on-hold to a fraction of the total?

It is estimated that the average biller can spend up to 2-hours on-hold just to get an insurance company on the phone. Add to that an average of 10 – 15 minutes to talk through a patient and most companies will only address one or two patients at a time.

 

#3: Insights from a Medical Billing Expert

In this interview with a medical billing expert and co-owner of Elite Billing Resolutions, Vicky Greenwood, we talk about dealing with the challenges in owning a billing company, some important skills that every medical biller needs, and the value of choosing the right medical billing software. In our time speaking with Vicky, we focused on topics that will aid, contribute, and help grow the skills of the medical billing community. We at EZClaim believe in highlighting the best practices in the industry and sharing those with the larger community. We encourage you to consider these insights, and then let us know what topics you would like to learn more about.

 

#4: Integrating Your EHR with EZClaim

Double data entry is frustrating. Luckily there is a better way—integrating your EHR with EZClaim.

Are you or your staff having to enter every patient into your EHR program and then again into EZClaim?  There is an easier way!  Integrating your programs will put an end to duplicate data entry, saving your practice time and money!

So, what exactly is an interface and how does it work?  An interface is a way for two programs to share information.  For EZClaim clients, the interface can be set up to share data from your EHR program to EZClaim.  Your EHR can give you specifics on how to send the data to EZClaim.

 

#5: 4 Tips for Reducing Claim Denials in 2021

Minimizing and preventing claim denials is a challenge that providers are increasingly running up against. We put together four strategies to address this growing problem:

Reducing claim denials has long been a challenge for providers. In the worst case, denied claims end up as unexpected—and sometimes unaffordable—bills for patients. The challenge only seems to be growing. A recent survey conducted by the American Hospital Association (AHA) found that 89% of respondents had seen a noticeable increase in denials over the past three years, with 51% describing the increase as “significant.”

Minimizing loss will be top of mind for providers as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put a strain on their resources, and minimizing or preventing denials will need to be a core part of that strategy. With that in mind, we’re offering four tips to help guide revenue cycle strategies for better denial reduction in 2021.


There you have it, the most popular posts on the EZClaim blog in 2021. We look forward to keeping you up to date on everything medical billing in the new year!

Medical Patients as Consumers

Medical Patients as Consumers

 

In a post-2020 world, consumers now expect every purchase and transaction they make to be personalized, digital, and simple. Groceries can be delivered and paid for with one click of a button. You can try on clothing virtually, get fitted for glasses, and even visit your doctor through your mobile device. To remain competitive, consumer-driven industries have had to create new and innovative ways to engage customers.

The healthcare industry has seen this shift as patients are behaving more like consumers in their healthcare interactions. Switching to a customer-centric mindset can be tricky for the healthcare industry as balancing patient communication and adhering to HIPAA and other regulations is essential. However, these new expectations have opened the door for the medical billing industry to innovate and move forward.

For the medical billing industry, consumers are asking for simplicity and convenience, but they still want choices. According to Healthcare Finance, fewer patients are paying their medical bills by check as the shift to online payment accelerates. It is important for the medical billing industry to understand that while a large segment of older Americans still pays bills through the mail, in-person, or by check, there are growing numbers of patients who prefer an online and mobile bill payment option.

As a solution to the ever-changing environment of payment reconciliation, in 2020 EZClaim launched EZClaimPay with the following features:

    • Allows medical staff to text and email patients with payment reminders
    • Allows patients to make payments on their mobile devices or online
    • Save credit cards online for fast easy patient payments
    • Gives patients the ability to save and print their own receipts
    • Patient payments made online import directly to your EZClaim Billing program
    • Collect payments 24-hours a day with no change to your “schedule” 

In a rapidly changing world that is becoming more technology-based, the medical billing industry must keep up with current consumer trends. EZClaimPay is an excellent tool to keep your practice cutting edge and offers your patients the latest in bill-paying options. 


ABOUT EZCLAIM:
As a medical billing expert, EZClaim can help the medical practice improve its revenues since it is a medical billing and scheduling software company. EZClaim provides a best-in-class product, with correspondingly exceptional service and support. Combined, EZClaim helps improve medical billing revenues. To learn more, visit EZClaim’s website, email them, or call them today at 877.650.0904.

Streamlining Your Practice with Medical Billing Software

Streamlining Your Practice with Medical Billing Software

EZClaim has been at the forefront of the medical billing software industry since 1997 with one goal in mind: to simplify the billing challenges for all providers. We at EZClaim understand that the healthcare billing process can be time-consuming and arduous, which is why we offer software that is easy to use, will focus on customer’s needs and can be specifically tailored to your practice.

Here are three essential reasons why you should be using medical billing software in your practice.

  1.     Improve Your Practice’s Billing Revenues

Did you know that the Academy of Healthcare Revenue estimates that providers have a 70 percent chance of collecting patient responsibility either prior to or at the point of service, compared to a 30 percent chance after the patient leaves?  EZClaimPay not only saves you and your team time but makes it easier to collect and record payments.

EZClaimPay allows your patient to make a payment at the point of service, and if they owe less than what they paid, you can offer a partial refund right from EZClaimPay. You can also keep a patient’s credit card on file, so if they owe more, you can get consent to charge the card on file. Additionally, there is no need to send out a statement; you can text or email the patient directly.

  1.     Useful in Processing and Tracking Medical Claims

There is no question that medical billing software is helpful for tracking and processing medical claims. If you are currently not utilizing a PM system, it is probably difficult to keep track of patient and insurance balances and claims that are under and overpaid, which means your practice could be losing money. With EZClaim, you will have much better control of your billing data.

 

Check out the video with real customer’s firsthand experiences on how easy and flexible EZClaim software really is:

 

  1.     Ease of Access

Using medical billing software allows your practice greater and easier access to all your patient data. By only logging into one program vs. numerous programs, you and your team will find it easier to answer questions for your patients. In addition, having your data seamlessly accessible will make processing payments more efficient.

Here at EZClaim, we understand that not all provider offices work the same. EZClaim software allows you to choose the additional tools and services that work best for how your practice operates. You can utilize the software as simple as you want or customize it to fit your practice’s specific objectives. With EZClaim Billing, you always have the option to grow.


ABOUT EZCLAIM:
As a medical billing expert, EZClaim can help the medical practice improve its revenues since it is a medical billing and scheduling software company. EZClaim provides a best-in-class product, with correspondingly exceptional service and support. Combined, EZClaim helps improve medical billing revenues. To learn more, visit EZClaim’s website, email them, or call them today at 877.650.0904.

Get More with the EZClaimPay Patient Portal

Get More with the EZClaimPay Patient Portal

Does your team spend countless hours on the phone attempting to collect payments from patients? Do you know how much of your valuable time is spent performing double data entries of those payments just to keep your books balanced? Do you find yourself wishing you had a one-stop-shop for all your patient payment needs? Well, you are in luck. EZClaimPay has the patient portal feature which allows you and your team to not only save time but makes it easier to collect and record payments.

In 2020, EZClaimPay was launched as a solution to the ever-changing environment of payment reconciliation. This was in response to customers’ difficulties with credit card payment processing. EZClaimPay provides for consolidated reconciliation and a single point of contact for support to make accepting credit and debit card payments painless.

If all that is not enough, the patient portal feature allows for the following:

  •       Medical staff to text and email patients their statements directly.
  •       Allows patients to make payments on their mobile devices or online.
  •       Gives patients the ability to save and print their own receipts.
  •       Patient payments go directly into your EZClaim account.
  •       24-hour a day convenience.

EZClaimPay allows for more freedom to allow patients to pay online, reduced billing errors, increases revenue, and a simplified payment process making the EZClaimPay and the patient portal a no-brainer! For more information contact us or call directly at 877.650.0904.