Charging Patients for Completing Forms

Is your office being overwhelmed by the number of forms that patients are asking you to complete for insurance, disability, and other purposes?

Many physicians are charging a fee for this service. While there is no law that prohibits charging patients for completing forms, there are factors to consider in implementing this practice.

During this one-hour program, practice management expert Debra Phairas discusses how various business models and operational enhancements can increase revenue to help your practice remain successful in today’s competitive marketplace.

Health plans generally prohibit billing patients for services considered to be covered benefits but may allow charging for services the health plan does not cover. Review your contracts or contact the health plan to ensure there are no restrictions.

Assuming there are no restrictions and you are allowed to charge patients for completing a form, the amount you charge should be reasonable according to your location and specialty and may vary depending on the nature of the form and the amount of time it takes to complete. Many offices have the patient pay for the form in advance so the office does not have the added cost for billing the patient.

Maintaining a good patient-physician relationship is important, so it is essential that you notify patients of any billing changes. Consider sending patients a description of the new policy, creating and having the patients sign a Patient Financial Responsibility form, or having the policy posted in the office waiting room. Don't forget to educate staff on how to respond to patients who question the new fees or request that they be waived.

Authored by
Kimberly Danebrock, RN, JD
Senior Risk Management & Patient Safety Specialist

If you have questions about this article, please contact us. This information should not be considered legal advice applicable to a specific situation. Legal guidance for individual matters should be obtained from a retained attorney.

During this one-hour program, practice management expert Debra Phairas discusses how various business models and operational enhancements can increase revenue to help your practice remain successful in today’s competitive marketplace.