Disagreements over liability can delay medical payments

Mar 23, 2015 | Healthcare Accounts Receivable

Some medical episodes can be attributed to bad luck, personal responsibility, heredity or chance. However, some result from accidents or events where a clear indication of fault is not present. In these situations, legal and insurance professionals can engage in protracted disputes that leave medical bills unpaid in the interim. This can shift temporary responsibility onto individuals or leave hospital collections administrators in limbo pending a ruling or settlement. 

For example, this month a Virginia Beach police dog caused injury when he attacked a young boy. Soon after the incident, the police department announced that the city would pay the child's medical bills. In situations like this, sometimes a resolution is swift and speedy, but other times those decisions can take extensive mediation or legal action.

"When that young man came running around that corner, he basically ran right into that dog, and the dog reacted," explained an officer in an interview with Channel 10. "There was no command given by the officer. There never would have been a command given by that officer."

Whether injuries result from accidental situations, negligence or deliberate harm, medical care still costs money. In the meantime of reaching an agreement over payment, hospital administrators can find themselves in limbo, leaving outstanding debts to settle as soon as possible. Many of these administrators are inundated with an unmanageable volume of claims that make offices run inefficiently. When offices outsource receivables management, they shift some of that burden onto a third party, reduce backlog and allow professionals to focus on the most high-priority claims in a caseload. Contact Professional Medical Services to learn more about our solutions for healthcare management administrators