Allergy & Immunology Integrated Patient Payments Software

Integrated Patient Payments in a Allergy & Immunology Practice

Allergy patients pay in small amounts, many times. A patient on immunotherapy may owe a copay at shot visit after shot visit. A testing visit can leave a deductible balance that is too large to pay at once. A biologic patient may owe coinsurance after every dose. Unlimited Systems puts all of these on one set of payment tools. With the patient's consent, a card is stored on file as a token, and staff can charge it for a shot-visit copay at checkout. For Medicare patients, coinsurance is known only after the claim pays, so the card can be charged once the remittance posts. Balances can also be paid from a text link or the patient portal. Larger balances, such as a testing bill or the doses billed for a new vial, can go on an automated payment plan. Each payment lands on the patient ledger right away, next to the statement it pays.

Why Is Integrated Patient Payments Different in Allergy & Immunology?

Shot clinics run on short visits. A patient checks in, gets an injection, waits through the observation period and leaves. There is little time to take a payment at the desk, and asking for a copay at every visit slows the line. With consent on file, a saved card lets staff collect without holding anyone at the window.

The amounts also change from visit to visit. A commercial plan may charge a set copay for a shot visit, or none at all. A Medicare patient owes coinsurance on the approved amount, which is known only after the claim pays. A vial build billed as 95165 doses can add a larger balance on one date. Integrated patient payments has to handle each of these without making the patient call.

Larger balances need a plan. A full skin test panel in the deductible, or coinsurance on an in-office biologic, can be more than a patient can pay at once. Payment plans that charge a stored card on schedule keep the balance moving without staff chasing each payment. Because payments post to the same ledger, the plan, the statement and the account agree.

What Allergy & Immunology Integrated Patient Payments Software Handles

Stored cards under PCI DSS

Cards on file are kept as tokens through payment gateways that meet the PCI Data Security Standard. The practice charges the token, not a card number written down or kept in a file. (PCI Security Standards Council: PCI DSS)

Medicare coinsurance on 95115 and 95117

Medicare patients generally owe coinsurance on the approved amount after the Part B deductible. With consent, the card on file is charged after the remittance posts, so the amount is exact. (Medicare.gov: Medicare costs (Part B deductible and coinsurance))

Vial builds billed as 95165

Antigen doses are billed as the number planned when the vial is made, so one date can carry a larger balance. That balance can go on an automated payment plan instead of a single charge. (Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 200: Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy)

Testing balances in the deductible

Allergy tests are paid per test, so a full panel can leave a sizable deductible balance. A plan set up from the portal spreads it out, and each draft posts to the ledger. (Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 200: Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy)

Self-pay patients and the good faith estimate

A self-pay patient starts with a No Surprises Act good faith estimate. Payments taken against it post to the account, and the balance is trued up when the final bill is ready. (CMS: Good Faith Estimates under the No Surprises Act)

How Does Allergy & Immunology Integrated Patient Payments Software Work?

1. 1. Ask for consent and store the card

   At registration or check-in, the patient agrees to keep a card on file. The card is saved as a token through the payment gateway.

2. 2. Collect the shot-visit copay

   When a commercial plan has a set copay, staff charge it at checkout or send a text link. The payment posts to the visit right away.

3. 3. Charge coinsurance after posting

   For Medicare and other coinsurance plans, the exact share is known after the payer pays. Once the remittance posts, the card on file can be charged for that amount.

4. 4. Offer a plan for larger balances

   Testing balances, vial-build charges and biologic coinsurance can go on an automated plan. The plan charges the stored card on schedule and posts each payment.

5. 5. Remind and link to pay

   Email and text reminders tell patients about open balances and link straight to the portal. The patient sees the allergy statement the payment applies to.

6. 6. Post to one ledger

   Every card, text and portal payment posts to the same account the billing team uses. Totals then match the deposits that payment posting reconciles.

Allergy & Immunology Integrated Patient Payments Software vs. Generic Software

Who Uses It in a Allergy & Immunology Practice

• Front desk: A quick checkout for shot patients, with copays charged to a card on file instead of a line at the window.
• Patient account rep: Fewer calls to take payments by phone, since patients can pay by text-to-pay link or the portal and set up a plan on their own.
• Controller: Patient payments that post to the ledger as they clear, so patient cash ties out to deposits without re-keying.