Loading...In a recent BBC study, two-thirds of all doctors polled said that any patients who miss appointments have to pay for the appointment or at the very least pay a fine or a penalty.
Here in the United States, physicians are a bit tight-lipped. There is even a legal question as to whether or not a doctor can even charge for a missed appointment. The answer is a big maybe.
Many believe it has to do with the relationship you have with your doctor and if there is a contractual obligation by the patient. Others say that there can not be a charge for “Services NOT rendered”.
Many doctors charge and just as many would like to but think it may be a public relations nightmare. There are even more considerations. What about insurance, will they pay for a missed appointment, actually some will.
This is a sensitive subject for all but most progressive physicians have purchased practice management software (electronic medical records and EMR software) that can mitigate the problem.
New electronic medical records and medical billing software such as ReminderPro is a user-friendly, interactive patient calling system that delivers doctor-to-patient communication through telephone and email messages automatically. Practices can enhance patient care, reduce appointment no-shows, and increase productivity.
The trend is positive, many doctors that have implemented such EMR software now lower the incidents of missing appointments and drive more profits to the practice’s bottom line.
Word Count: 239
