Collection deductibles up front...??

What is the legality of collecting the deductible up front? I have never collected a deductible up front because of allowables and other factors but I was just wondering if there were any legalities I should look out for..??
Thanks
Sara

Collecing deductibles up front

If you know what the patient's deductible is, you can collect it up front for most insurances. I've never read a contract that didn't allow it, but it's worth looking at your contracts.

If you can look on line and find out what the patient owes: co-insurance and deductible, you can collect it.

collecting deductible up front...

I guess I am not understanding how that would happen...

If I have a $500 deductive, LOL- I wouldn't go to the drs, but anyway..

I go see my PCP and I owe $500 deductible- they collect my $500 up front or what the allowed amount would be from my insurance company for that particular visit- what happens if I have seen 23 other doctors prior to this visit and at dr visit 11- my deductible was met? How are you going to collect for something that has been met?

collecting deductibles up front

With some payers, you can go on line and verify:

Eligibility
Benefits
How much of the deductible is met

You can do this patient by patient, or better, with batch eligibility checking via your clearinghouse.

collecting deductibles

A patient of ours complained when we tried to collect the deduct. for an elective procedure. I called Anthem, and they said it states in our contract that we cannot collect from the patient, with the exception of copays, until we have billed the insurance company. Sure enough, I looked in the contract and that is what it states. If you do an online pre-determination with Cigna, however, it tells you that you can collect at the time of the visit.

We collect

We have the patient sign a billing waiver that details deductibles are due at the time of service. We estimate the allowable amount and/or go online during the visit. We also express in writing and person to the pt that this is an estimate, they may owe more or less. If they owe less, they have the option to have a credit from us, or request a refund, if more we bill. I have had no issues with this... in fact it's the patients we bill deductibles to after the appointment that make issues of not being charged up front!