US 2004/0006495 A1 · Letter communication method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient

A letter communication method for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said letter communication method comprises:

(a) gathering current account receivable information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current account receivable information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis;
(b) exporting said current account receivable information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) comparing historical account receivable information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current account receivable information;
(d) categorizing said patient into one of three groups, said three groups being a commercial PPO/HMO group, a Medicare/Self Pay group, and an Insufficient Insurance Information group;
(e) processing said current account receivable information of said patient to generate a processed information, said processed information triggering a letter to said patient based on a current account receivable amount and number of days between current date and a first billing date, said first billing date being a date that an initial letter being sent to said patient, said initial letter being one of three kinds of initial letters, said three kinds of initial letters being a first kind of initial letter if said patient being in said commercial PPO/HMO group, said patient having a commercial insurance carrier, said first kind of initial letter being an initial welcome letter to said patient indicating that said commercial insurance carrier being billed on behalf of said patient, a second kind of initial letter if said patient being in said Medicare/Self Pay group, said second kind of initial letter being one of five initial letters, said five initial letters being a first initial letter when said patient having a Medicare insurance carrier and a secondary insurance carrier, said Medicare insurance carrier having paid and said secondary insurance carrier being billed, a second initial letter when said patient having a primary insurance carrier and a secondary insurance carrier, said primary insurance carrier having paid and said secondary insurance carrier being billed, a third initial letter when said patient having a Medicare insurance carrier but having no secondary insurance carrier, said Medicare insurance carrier having paid and said patient being billed, a fourth initial letter when said patient having a primary insurance carrier and a Medicare insurance carrier as a secondary insurance carrier, said primary insurance carrier having paid and said Medicare insurance carrier being billed, and a fifth initial letter when said patient having no insurance carrier, said patient being billed, and a third kind of initial letter if said patient being in said Insufficient Insurance Information group, said third kind of initial letter being one of two initial letters, said two initial letters being a sixth initial letter when said patient having provided incomplete insurance carrier information, said patient being requested for more information about said insurance carrier by said healthcare provider, a seventh initial letter when said patient having provided insurance carrier information to indicate an insurance carrier, said patient being requested for more information by said insurance carrier, and an eighth initial letter reminding said patient a monthly payment being due at a certain date of every month, when said patient having agreed to make said monthly payment on said certain date of every month;
(f) preparing said letter to said patient;
(g) reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider;
(h) producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(i) sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(j) updating said current account receivable information.

8 more elements

A letter communication method for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said letter communication method comprises:

(a) gathering current information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis, said current information including an account balance due, a past due period and a payment method of said patient, said payment method being a lump sum payment method or a monthly pay plan method, said monthly pay plan method having a pre-defined monthly payment date and a pre-defined monthly payment amount, said pre-defined monthly payment date and said pre-defined monthly payment amount being defined by said healthcare provider;
(b) exporting said current information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) updating historical information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current information;
(d) categorizing said patient into one of three groups, said three groups being a commercial PPO/HMO group, a Medicare/Self Pay group, and an Insufficient Insurance Information group;
(e) processing said current information of said patient;
(f) generating a processed information, said processed information including a letter to said patient, said letter being generated by said processing center based on said current information of said patient;
(g) preparing said letter to said patient;
(h) reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider, said processed information including said letter to said patient;
(i) producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(j) sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(k) updating said current information of said patient existing at said healthcare provider to said processed information.

9 more elements

A letter communication method for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said letter communication method comprises:

(a) gathering a current information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis, said information including a payment receipt, an account balance due, a current balance due, and a current balance due date for said current balance due;
(b) exporting said current information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) updating a historical information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current information;
(d) categorizing said patient into a group, said group being defined by either said healthcare provider or said processing center;
(e) processing said current information of said patient;
(f) generating a processed information, said processed information including a letter to said patient, said letter being generated by said processing center based on said current information of said patient;
(g) reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider, said processed information including said letter to said patient;
(h) producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(i) sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(j) updating said current information of said patient existing at said healthcare provider to said processed information.

8 more elements

An apparatus for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said apparatus comprises:

(a) means for gathering a current account receivable information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current account receivable information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis;
(b) means for exporting said current account receivable information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) means for comparing historical account receivable information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current account receivable information;
(d) means for categorizing said patient into one of three groups, said three groups being a commercial PPO/HMO group, a Medicare/Self Pay group, and an Insufficient Insurance Information group;
(e) means for processing said current account receivable information of said patient to generate a processed information, said processed information triggering a letter to said patient based on a current account receivable amount and number of days between current date and a first billing date, said first billing date being a date that an initial letter being sent to said patient, said initial letter being one of three kinds of initial letters, said three kinds of initial letters being a first kind of initial letter if said patient being in said commercial PPO/HMO group, said patient having a commercial insurance carrier, said first kind of initial letter being an initial welcome letter to said patient indicating that said commercial insurance carrier being billed on behalf of said patient, a second kind of initial letter if said patient being in said Medicare/Self Pay group, said second kind of initial letter being one of five initial letters, said five initial letters being a first initial letter when said patient having a Medicare insurance carrier and a secondary insurance carrier, said Medicare insurance carrier having paid and said secondary insurance carrier being billed, a second initial letter when said patient having a primary insurance carrier and a secondary insurance carrier, said primary insurance carrier having paid and said secondary insurance carrier being billed, a third initial letter when said patient having a Medicare insurance carrier but having no secondary insurance carrier, said Medicare insurance carrier having paid and said patient being billed, a fourth initial letter when said patient having a primary insurance carrier and a Medicare insurance carrier as a secondary insurance carrier, said primary insurance carrier having paid and said Medicare insurance carrier being billed, and a fifth initial letter when said patient having no insurance carrier, said patient being billed, and a third kind of initial letter if said patient being in said Insufficient Insurance Information group, said third kind of initial letter being one of two initial letters, said two initial letters being a sixth initial letter when said patient having provided incomplete insurance carrier information, said patient being requested for more information about said insurance carrier by said healthcare provider, a seventh initial letter when said patient having provided insurance carrier information to indicate an insurance carrier, said patient being requested for more information by said insurance carrier, and an eighth initial letter reminding said patient a monthly payment being due at a certain date of every month, when said patient having agreed to make said monthly payment on said certain date of every month;
(f) means for preparing said letter to said patient;
(g) means for reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider;
(h) means for producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(i) means for sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(j) means for updating said current account receivable information.

8 more elements

An apparatus for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said apparatus comprises:

(a) means for gathering a current information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis, said current information including an account balance due, a past due period and a payment method of said patient, said payment method being a lump sum payment method or a monthly pay plan method, said monthly pay plan method having a pre-defined monthly payment date and a pre-defined monthly payment amount, said pre-defined monthly payment date and said pre-defined monthly payment amount being defined by said healthcare provider;
(b) means for exporting said current information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) means for updating historical information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current information;
(d) means for categorizing said patient into one of three groups, said three groups being a commercial PPO/HMO group, a Medicare/Self Pay group, and an Insufficient Insurance Information group;
(e) means for processing said current information of said patient;
(f) means for generating a processed information, said processed information including a letter to said patient, said letter being generated by said processing center based on said current information of said patient;
(g) means for preparing said letter to said patient;
(h) means for reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider, said processed information including said letter to said patient;
(i) means for producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(j) means for sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(k) means for updating said current information of said patient existing at said healthcare provider to said processed information.

9 more elements

An apparatus for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said apparatus comprises

(a) means for gathering a current information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis, said information including a payment receipt, an account balance due, a current balance due, and a current balance due date for said current balance due;
(b) means for exporting said current information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) means for updating a historical information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current information;
(d) means for categorizing said patient into a group, said group being defined by either said healthcare provider or said processing center;
(e) means for processing said current information of said patient;
(f) means for generating a processed information, said processed information including a letter to said patient, said letter being generated by said processing center based on said current information of said patient;
(g) means for reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider, said processed information including said letter to said patient;
(h) means for producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(i) means for sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(j) means for updating said current information of said patient existing at said healthcare provider to said processed information.

8 more elements

An apparatus for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said apparatus comprises:

(a) a database at said healthcare provider, said database being updated from time to time, said database having at least a current information of said patient, said current information having a payment method of said patient, a balance due amount of said patient, a current balance due amount of said patient, and a payment due date of said patient;
(b) a processing center;
(b) means for encoding said current information of said patient into an encoded information at said healthcare provider;
(c) means for sending said encoded information to said processing center by said healthcare provider;
(d) means for decoding said encoded information into said current information at said processing center;
(e) a processing software, said processing software being on said processing center, said processing software capable of generating an updated information, said updated information including a letter, said letter being generated by said processing software based on said current information, said letter including a pre-defined part of said current information and a future action of said healthcare provider;
(f) means for encoding said updated information into an encoded updated information at said processing center;
(g) means for sending said encoded updated information to said healthcare provider by said processing center;
(h) means for decoding said encoded updated information into said updated information at said healthcare provider;
(i) means for updating said current information according to said updated information;
(j) means for generating said letter to said patient;
and
(k) a connecting means for connecting said database, said processing center, said means for encoding said current information, said means for sending said encoded information, said means for decoding said encoded information, said processing software, said means for encoding said updated information, said means for sending encoded updated information, said means for decoding said encoded updated information, said means for updating, and said means for generating said letter together electronically.

10 more elements

A computer program product recorded on a computer readable medium for a method for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said computer program product comprises:

(a) computer readable means for gathering a current account receivable information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current account receivable information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis;
(b) computer readable means for exporting said current account receivable information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) computer readable means for comparing historical account receivable information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current account receivable information;
(d) computer readable means for categorizing said patient into one of three groups, said three groups being a commercial PPO/HMO group, a Medicare/Self Pay group, and an Insufficient Insurance Information group;
(e) computer readable means for processing said current account receivable information of said patient to generate a processed information, said processed information triggering a letter to said patient based on a current account receivable amount and number of days between current date and a first billing date, said first billing date being a date that an initial letter being sent to said patient, said initial letter being one of three kinds of initial letters, said three kinds of initial letters being a first kind of initial letter if said patient being in said commercial PPO/HMO group, said patient having a commercial insurance carrier, said first kind of initial letter being an initial welcome letter to said patient indicating that said commercial insurance carrier being billed on behalf of said patient, a second kind of initial letter if said patient being in said Medicare/Self Pay group, said second kind of initial letter being one of five initial letters, said five initial letters being a first initial letter when said patient having a Medicare insurance carrier and a secondary insurance carrier, said Medicare insurance carrier having paid and said secondary insurance carrier being billed, a second initial letter when said patient having a primary insurance carrier and a secondary insurance carrier, said primary insurance carrier having paid and said secondary insurance carrier being billed, a third initial letter when said patient having a Medicare insurance carrier but having no secondary insurance carrier, said Medicare insurance carrier having paid and said patient being billed, a fourth initial letter when said patient having a primary insurance carrier and a Medicare insurance carrier as a secondary insurance carrier, said primary insurance carrier having paid and said Medicare insurance carrier being billed, and a fifth initial letter when said patient having no insurance carrier, said patient being billed, and a third kind of initial letter if said patient being in said Insufficient Insurance Information group, said third kind of initial letter being one of two initial letters, said two initial letters being a sixth initial letter when said patient having provided incomplete insurance carrier information, said patient being requested for more information about said insurance carrier by said healthcare provider, a seventh initial letter when said patient having provided insurance carrier information to indicate an insurance carrier, said patient being requested for more information by said insurance carrier, and an eighth initial letter reminding said patient a monthly payment being due at a certain date of every month, when said patient having agreed to make said monthly payment on said certain date of every month;
(f) computer readable means for preparing said letter to said patient;
(g) computer readable means for reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider;
(h) computer readable means for producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(i) computer readable means for sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(j) computer readable means for updating said current account receivable information.

8 more elements

A computer program product recorded on a computer readable medium for a method for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said computer program product comprises:

(a) computer readable means for gathering a current information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis, said current information including an account balance due, a past due period and a payment method of said patient, said payment method being a lump sum payment method or a monthly pay plan method, said monthly pay plan method having a pre-defined monthly payment date and a pre-defined monthly payment amount, said pre-defined monthly payment date and said pre-defined monthly payment amount being defined by said healthcare provider;
(b) computer readable means for exporting said current information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) computer readable means for updating historical information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current information;
(d) computer readable means for categorizing said patient into one of three groups, said three groups being a commercial PPO/HMO group, a Medicare/Self Pay group, and an Insufficient Insurance Information group;
(e) computer readable means for processing said current information of said patient;
(f) computer readable means for generating a processed information, said processed information including a letter to said patient, said letter being generated by said processing center based on said current information of said patient;
(g) computer readable means for preparing said letter to said patient;
(h) computer readable means for reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider, said processed information including said letter to said patient;
(i) computer readable means for producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(j) computer readable means for sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(k) computer readable means for updating said current information of said patient existing at said healthcare provider to said processed information.

9 more elements

A computer program product recorded on a computer readable medium for a method for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient, said computer program product comprises:

(a) computer readable means for gathering a current information of said patient of said healthcare provider, said current information being updated by said healthcare provider on a regular basis, said information including a payment receipt, an account balance due, a current balance due, and a current balance due date for said current balance due;
(b) computer readable means for exporting said current information by said healthcare provider to a processing center;
(c) computer readable means for updating a historical information of said patient existing at said processing center to said current information;
(d) computer readable means for categorizing said patient into a group, said group being defined by either said healthcare provider or said processing center;
(e) computer readable means for processing said current information of said patient;
(f) computer readable means for generating a processed information, said processed information including a letter to said patient, said letter being generated by said processing center based on said current information of said patient;
(g) computer readable means for reloading said processed information back to said healthcare provider, said processed information including said letter to said patient;
(h) computer readable means for producing said letter by said healthcare provider;
(i) computer readable means for sending said letter to said patient by said healthcare provider;
and
(j) computer readable means for updating said current information of said patient existing at said healthcare provider to said processed information.

8 more elements

Letter communication method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient

Life of this patent

Letter communication method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for a healthcare provider to effectively expedite reimbursement process from a patient

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims93