Improving patient collections: strategies and best practices

A positive patient experience can quickly sour when difficult financial conversations enter the picture. High out-of-pocket costs and confusing medical bills make payments a sensitive issue for many patients. For providers, the challenge is clear: how to improve patient collections while delivering compassionate care. This article considers proven strategies and best practices to simplify patient collections, maximize revenue, and keep the focus on patient-centered care.

The importance of optimizing patient collections for healthcare providers

For many patients, an unforeseen medical emergency can quickly become a financial one. According to a 2024 report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, medical debt rose from an average of $2,000 per person to over $3,100 in a year, while 15 million Americans carry medical collections on their credit reports. Such financial strain erodes the patient experience, with one in five patients experiencing distress over healthcare costs they can’t afford.

Experian Health’s State of Patient Access 2024 survey found that both patients and providers agree that understanding coverage helps patients manage their healthcare costs. Still, unpaid bills and aging accounts are a persistent concern for providers. Hospitals’ operating margins may have rebounded, but remain extremely tight. Remaining alert to risks and opportunities in patient collections is essential for long-term financial health.

As patients shoulder a greater share of their medical costs—and those costs continue to rise—efficient collections are critical for patient trust and financial resilience.

Breaking down the patient collections process

The patient collections process involves determining how much of the cost of care falls to the patient, and then billing and collecting the correct amounts. During registration, providers verify insurance coverage and eligibility to estimate what the insurer will cover. Accurate cost estimates can then be provided to patients upfront, giving them the option to make payments before or at the time of service. The bulk of billing and collections activities take place post-visit, sometimes involving third-party agencies.

However, collections can be thwarted by several challenges. Staff must keep up with frequent changes in insurance policies to prevent errors in billing or cost calculations. Patients may worry about affordability, leading to late payments. Billing teams often lack information about patients’ financial circumstances, making it hard to predict how likely they are to pay. On top of this, many patients expect more convenient payment options, such as online or mobile payment methods, and will express frustration if the process feels inconvenient.

Proven strategies to collect more revenue, sooner

Three ways to create a patient-friendly billing experience and ensure prompt payment include the following:

1. Reduce stress with clear pricing and flexible payment plans

Patients want collections processes to be clearer and more transparent. The State of Patient Access survey found that more than four in ten patients say they would be more likely to cancel or postpone care without an accurate estimate. Six in ten say they’d be more confident in their ability to pay for care if they were offered a payment plan that took account of their financial situation.

Automated patient estimates arm patients with accurate information about the expected cost of care in advance. They have more time to make their financial arrangements and are less likely to be surprised by a surprise bill.

Providers can offer additional clarity and flexibility through tailored payment plans. Experian Health’s Patient Financial Clearance softwareuses advanced analytics and data to analyze individual patient accounts and determine their ability to pay. This allows front desk personnel to quickly choose the most appropriate financial pathway for each patient.It also supports more compassionate financial conversations, as staff can adjust their approach to suit each patient’s financial situation.

2. Help patients find and understand coverage

Relying on manual processes can slow down registration and miss potential payment sources.Since 2000, unidentified coverage opportunitieshave landed hospitals withmore than $745 billionin uncompensated care. Given that patients are asking for help understanding coverage, it makes sense to build coverage discovery into the collections process.

Experian Health’s Coverage Discovery^® automatically scans patient accounts throughout their care journey to uncover alternative payment methods and reduce financial strain. This has helped healthcare organizations like Luminis Health identify over $240k in active coverage per month, greatly reducing the financial risk for patients and providers.

3. Make payments easier to prevent delays

Improving patient collections processes will be fruitless if patients can’t easily make payments. Digital and mobile payment options are non-negotiable for today’s digital-first consumers. Accepting payments at multiple collection points, including mobile devices, kiosks and patient portals, gives patients the convenience and choice they need to pay promptly.

Best practices for patient collections management

Aside from automation and digital tools, the strongest strategies for improving patient collections rest on one key ingredient: robust data. Collections software is only as good as the data behind it. With a tool like Collections Optimization Manager, providers can deploy advanced analytics to segment patient accounts so they can be handled appropriately. Using credit, behavior and demographic data, it applies a proprietary propensity-to-pay score to each account, so staff know which accounts to prioritize, write off or refer out. This approach has helped organizations like Novant Health and Cone Health bring in millions of dollars with personalized, patient-centric collections.

On-demand webinar: Hear how Novant Health and Cone Health achieved 7:1 ROI and $14 million in patient collections with Collections Optimization Manager.

Tracking patient collections success

By monitoringkey performance indicatorslike collection rates, accounts receivable days and patient feedback, providers can continue to fine-tune their processes. Collections Optimization Manager captures this data in user-friendly dashboards and reports, so staff can assess their performance against their own history and industry trends. Users also benefit from expert support from Experian Health consultants, who help teams evaluate reports and recommend the right collections strategies every step of the way.

How to build a patient collection strategy that gets results

For millions of Americans, medical debt isn’t just a financial burden: it’s a barrier to care. To overcome this challenge, providers need proactive collections strategies that prioritize patient well-being and financial stability. By incorporating automation, analytics, and digital tools, healthcare organizations can create patient collections processes that are clear, compassionate and effective, delivering better outcomes for both patients and providers.

Find out more about how Experian Health’s suite of healthcare collections products helps providers boost collections, cash flow and patient satisfaction.