One of the tools available to assist with the collection of unpaid patient balances is to report the debt to a credit reporting bureau. While typically used as a last resort, it has had the effect of ultimately achieving collection when the patient applies for a loan that requires them to clear up the open balances shown on the credit report. While most physician groups are compassionate and are willing to work with their patients to avoid credit bureau reporting, they are required by insurance laws to pursue collection of patient co-payments and coinsurance. With patient deductibles, copayments and coinsurance increasing in many plans, loss of revenue to the practice through non-collection has become a bigger concern over recent years.
