Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exam

What is the final step to the aging and collection process for a patient with private insurance?

1. Arrange a payment plan with the patient

2. Refer the patient to another medical provider

3. Send an overdue notice with the intent of turning the bill over to a collection agency if not paid promptly

4. Write off the patient's debt

The correct answer is: Send an overdue notice with the intent of turning the bill over to a collection agency if not paid promptly

The final step in the aging and collection process for a patient with private insurance typically involves sending an overdue notice with the intent of turning the bill over to a collection agency if it is not paid promptly. This action represents a crucial step in the financial process for healthcare providers, as it formalizes the communication about an outstanding debt and underscores the seriousness of the situation. Once a bill has aged and multiple reminders have been sent, the overdue notice serves as a last attempt to collect the amount owed before escalating the situation to a collection agency. This protocol ensures that the patient is aware of the implications, providing them an opportunity to settle their debt before further action is taken that might impact their credit or require external collection interventions. The other actions, such as arranging a payment plan, referring the patient to another provider, or writing off the debt, do not follow the standard protocol for concluding the collections process. These options may serve different purposes in patient care or financial management but do not align with the final step of escalating overdue accounts.