3 ways to streamline patient payments for your mental health practice

Collecting payments from patients is a growing challenge faced by many healthcare providers, and mental health is no exception. The high cost of deductibles and complicated billing processes are just a couple of reasons why patients find it difficult to pay their balances on time. The delicate relationship between therapists and patients, which may require challenging conversations, can compound the problem — making it even more difficult to collect payments.

The good news is that technology is now playing a vital role in helping to streamline the patient payment process, which makes the process easier for providers and patients. Below are 3 ways technology can help your practice collect payments more efficiently, while also improving the patient experience.

1. Provide a digital payment experience 

Digital payment technology provides patients with easy access to payment options like ApplyPay and GooglePay, which positively impacts their healthcare provider choices. A recent study shows that 44% of millennials and 29% of baby boomers prefer medical providers who offer digital payment solutions via mobile. 

The ease of access provided by digital payment technology attracts and retains patients of various generations and will continue to grow.

2. Automate your payment process

Modern technology that supports automated text, email, and paper mail options, as well as automated patient follow-ups, is helping streamline and shorten the payment process for both patients and staff. 

A recent survey found that 44% of patients pay medical bills faster when they receive digital or phone notifications about billing, and 49% would pay by text if available. Implementing automated solutions that enable medical practices to work smarter, not harder, alleviates the collection process burden.

3. Ensure accurate data flow

Digital collection systems ensure that patients feel secure with their patient health information (PHI) and any payment information they store for future use. Manual payment processes create a larger margin of error for data entry and require special processes to securely store or dispose of PHI. Many PHI theft and loss incidents involve paper records, which results in the exposure of large amounts of patient information. Shifting to a digital payment solution created specifically for healthcare ensures that mental health practices comply with all HIPAA requirements while saving staff time.

Tebra’s digital payment platform is fully HIPAA compliant, ensuring that all PHI and payment information is secure and protected.

In addition, the cost of high deductibles or cash only providers can create a challenge for patients to pay their bills in full. However, modern technology can help mental health practices overcome this challenge by providing patients with a simplified payment process with cost transparency at the time of service, visibility into what they owe and an easy process to submit payments.

Offer digital payment options for telemedicine sessions 

Finally, telemedicine continues to play a vital role in the healthcare industry. While the population has steadily returned to in-person visits, there is still a desire to have the option for telehealth, especially in mental health. 

A recent survey found that 49% of patients would be willing to use telehealth services for mental health care. Offering digital payment options for telemedicine sessions improves the patient experience and ensures that mental health practices can capture payments more efficiently.

Streamlining the patient payment process

Overall, mental health practices can streamline the patient payment process by adopting digital solutions that meet patients’ expectations, shorten the revenue cycle, and ensure accurate data flow. The end cost of treatment won’t change, but by improving the payment process, mental health practices can put patients more in control of their health and provide them with a more straightforward system to adhere to.

If you are a mental health practice looking for a secure, efficient, and HIPAA compliant solution for collecting patient payments, consider Tebra’s digital payment platform. By adopting digital solutions that meet patients’ expectations, shorten the revenue cycle, and ensure accurate data flow, you can streamline the patient payment process and improve the overall patient experience.