--- title: Medical Billing Services and Bad Debt - Blog - Emerald AR | customer service description: customer service | Our blog keeps you up-to-date and informed regarding all things medical billing services and bad debt management. With healthcare being such a dynamic industry, it's great to keep your options available to all full service opportunities for your patients. --- - [Billing Dispute](https://share.hsforms.com/19JMxXfLJQVmZAu_Z6lfvFQ2vj2o?__hstc=33507169.a4ef11b15f1fbdf0c689f7913c4e0aa7.1565064394586.1565283894559.1565291729783.11&__hssc=33507169.2.1565291729783&__hsfp=4249850865) - [Pay Your Bill](https://www.youraccountcenter.com/) - [Careers](https://www.emeraldar.com/careers/) [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/logobig.png) ![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/logosmall-1.png) ![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/logobig.png)](https://emeraldar.com) [Client Portal](https://clientportal.emeraldar.com/) - [Home](https://www.emeraldar.com) - Products - [Medicaid Eligibility](https://www.emeraldar.com/eligibility) - Services - [Patient Statements](https://www.emeraldar.com/statements) - [Early Stage Patient Billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/earlystagebilling) - [Late Stage Billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/latestagepatientbilling) - [Blog](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog) - Resources - [Anesthesiology Patient Billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/anesthesiology-patient-billing) - [Radiology Patient Billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/radiology-patient-billing-services/) - [Medicaid Eligibility](https://www.emeraldar.com/medicaid-eligibility) - [Hospital Patient Billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/hospital-patient-billing-services/) - [Contact Us](https://www.emeraldar.com/contact) ## Self-Pay Revenue Management ###### 2 min read ## [How to create effective patient statements](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/how-to-create-effective-patient-statements) By [Emerald](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/emerald) on January 27, 2020 - 2:18 PM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/New%20Blog%20Post%20(2)-1.png)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/how-to-create-effective-patient-statements) Let's be honest, patient statements can be confusing. There's often so much jargon on them that patients don't know when to pay their bill, let alone how to pay it. So, what can you do to simplify statements, and is it even possible to make things easier? We think so. Here's an overview of what's going wrong with patient statements and how to fix them. Topics: [Health Centers](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/health-centers) [healthcare debt](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/healthcare-debt) [medical billing process](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medical-billing-process) [multi-lingual patient](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/multi-lingual-patient) [patient communication](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-communication) [Patient Friendly](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-friendly) [problem solving](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/problem-solving) [medicaidbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medicaidbilling) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [patient statements](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-statements) [medical collections](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medical-collections) [healthcare collections](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/healthcare-collections) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/how-to-create-effective-patient-statements) ###### 2 min read ## [3 Resilient Revenue Cycle Processes](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/3-resilient-revenue-cycle-processes) By [Audrey Cooper](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/audrey-cooper) on September 18, 2019 - 1:03 PM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/Bodybuilder.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/3-resilient-revenue-cycle-processes) Keeping track of employees is not an easy task. Management often spends a lot of time focusing on what employees are doing, where the "wasted" time is spent, and how to do things faster - making their company lean, mean, and ready for action. No management team sets out to micromanage their employees, but rather to understand where time is spent in order to improve efficiency, productivity, and communication. Emerald has developed a number of processes that are designed to do just that. These three processes have had significant impacts on our organization.  Topics: [Community health](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/community-health) [Health Centers](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/health-centers) [Revenue](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/revenue) [problem solving](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/problem-solving) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [debt collections](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/debt-collections) [healthcare collections](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/healthcare-collections) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/3-resilient-revenue-cycle-processes) ###### 2 min read ## [Your patient statements may be delaying patient payment](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/your-patient-statements-may-be-delaying-patient-payment) By [Emerald](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/emerald) on August 26, 2019 - 3:01 PM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/iStock-925758394.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/your-patient-statements-may-be-delaying-patient-payment) Paying for medical bills is a straightforward process, right? Although that may be the case when you're a seasoned member of the industry, it isn't an experience that translates to the rest of America. Just 60% of people feel comfortable paying their medical bills. Although the way patients pay their bills has evolved, it hasn't made life any easier for them. In a recent study that examined the consumer payment experience, surprising findings were made. By learning more about them, you can see how Emerald AR Systems could enhance patient communication for you. Topics: [patient communication](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-communication) [Patient Friendly](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-friendly) [medical debt](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medical-debt) [problem solving](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/problem-solving) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [lockbox](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/lockbox) [outsourcing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsourcing) [patientbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patientbilling) [notices](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/notices) [patient statements](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-statements) [surprisebilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/surprisebilling) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/your-patient-statements-may-be-delaying-patient-payment) ###### 2 min read ## [When to Hire A Collection Agency](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/when-to-hire-a-collection-agency) By [Emerald](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/emerald) on August 20, 2019 - 11:46 AM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/iStock-533921730.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/when-to-hire-a-collection-agency) Like any business, medical practices need steady cash flow to be successful. By the time a claim goes to the insurance company and back, the patient might not even remember the services they received. Sometimes patients simply don’t consider paying their doctor as a priority. These issues result in the practice not having the money it needs to pay their staff’s salaries, their overhead charges, or for their supplies. Topics: [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [outsourcing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsourcing) [outsource](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsource) [medical collections](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medical-collections) [debt collections](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/debt-collections) [healthcare collections](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/healthcare-collections) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/when-to-hire-a-collection-agency) ###### 2 min read ## [Working to Stop Surprise Billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/working-to-stop-surprise-billing) By [Emerald](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/emerald) on August 8, 2019 - 8:00 AM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/Radiology_Billing_Office-1.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/working-to-stop-surprise-billing) Surprise medical bills are big business. A recent survey suggests 57% of Americans have [received a medical bill they expected their insurance to cover](http://www.norc.org/NewsEventsPublications/PressReleases/Pages/new-survey-reveals-57-percent-of-americans-have-been-surprised-by-a-medical-bill.aspx). Topics: [patient communication](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-communication) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [outsourcing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsourcing) [patientbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patientbilling) [patient statements](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-statements) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/working-to-stop-surprise-billing) ###### 2 min read ## [Automated Processes Transform Healthcare Billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/hospitalrevenue) By [Audrey Cooper](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/audrey-cooper) on May 6, 2019 - 10:00 AM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/web-development.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/hospitalrevenue) Have you been operating with an understaffed department? Are your 60-120-day buckets getting larger and larger? Do you have way too many manual processes? Were you nodding at any of these questions as you were reading them?  Adding more staff and manual processes are what I characterize as "band-aid" fixes -- great for clean-up projects, but not ideal as permanent solutions to a problem that will continue to rear its ugly head.  Topics: [Revenue](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/revenue) [healthcare debt](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/healthcare-debt) [cfo](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/cfo) [problem solving](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/problem-solving) [billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/billing) [medicaidbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medicaidbilling) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [outsourcing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsourcing) [outsource](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsource) [patientbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patientbilling) [VP Revenue Cycle Management](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/vp-revenue-cycle-management) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/hospitalrevenue) ###### 3 min read ## [3 Reasons Your Patient Notices Are Confusing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/3-reasons-why-your-patient-notices-are-confusing-1) By [Kaylee Gordon Riddle](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/kaylee-gordon-riddle) on April 11, 2019 - 3:06 PM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/iStock_000025568323_Medium-1.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/3-reasons-why-your-patient-notices-are-confusing-1) A patient notice is one of the most powerful communication tools in healthcare revenue. Without them, the patient wouldn't know how much to or when to pay. Unfortunately, 57% of patients are confused by their billing statements. The result of their confusion leads to payment delays and an increase patient call volume.  Let's be real here.  Billing offices don't have time or the resources to manage more calls and they certainly don't want to wait longer to get paid. Emerald's research team decided to tackle the problem. We worked with industry experts to improve the patient statement. We compared multiple notice templates, analyzed patient calls and other concerns related to the statement.  When we finished our analysis, we narrowed our improvements to three main areas.   Topics: [Community health](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/community-health) [Health Centers](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/health-centers) [Community Health Centers](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/community-health-centers) [Revenue](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/revenue) [medical billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medical-billing) [Tools](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/tools) [money](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/money) [medicaidbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medicaidbilling) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [outsourcing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsourcing) [patientbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patientbilling) [notices](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/notices) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/3-reasons-why-your-patient-notices-are-confusing-1) ###### 1 min read ## [Cause You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: How to separate the payers from the non-payers](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/cause-you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know-how-to-separate-the-payers-from-the-non-payers) By [Kaylee Gordon Riddle](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/kaylee-gordon-riddle) on April 9, 2019 - 4:25 PM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/1_VHsTuIRpLBAXVNsi5QRLEA.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/cause-you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know-how-to-separate-the-payers-from-the-non-payers) Topics: [Revenue](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/revenue) [Industry News](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/industry-news) [money](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/money) [medicaidbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medicaidbilling) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [outsourcing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsourcing) [propensitytopay](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/propensitytopay) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/cause-you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know-how-to-separate-the-payers-from-the-non-payers) ###### 2 min read ## [Gain by Giving up: What Outsourcing Can Give You for Free](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/gain-by-giving-up-what-outsourcing-can-give-you-for-free) By [Kaylee Gordon Riddle](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/kaylee-gordon-riddle) on April 8, 2019 - 4:23 PM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/outsourcing1.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/gain-by-giving-up-what-outsourcing-can-give-you-for-free) We all love free things. But when we think of outsourcing, we typically think of letting go of a process or department; we don’t think of gaining anything. Fortunately, by outsourcing your medical billing and collections services with Emerald A/R Systems, your company can gain more than you ever thought, and for free! That’s right, Emerald A/R’s flat free pricing means all the company’s additional services are free. Let’s look at just a few freebies you can get when you outsource your billing and collections. Topics: [Medicaid](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medicaid) [Health Centers](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/health-centers) [Company](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/company) [FQHC billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/fqhc-billing) [billing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/billing) [medicaidbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medicaidbilling) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [lockbox](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/lockbox) [outsourcing](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsourcing) [outsource](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/outsource) [patientbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patientbilling) [notices](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/notices) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/gain-by-giving-up-what-outsourcing-can-give-you-for-free) ###### 3 min read ## [How to Increase Employee Value and its Benefits](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/how-to-increase-employee-value-and-its-benefits) By [Kaylee Gordon Riddle](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/kaylee-gordon-riddle) on April 3, 2019 - 4:22 PM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/employee%20value.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/how-to-increase-employee-value-and-its-benefits) INCREASE EMPLOYEE VALUE On average, the largest companies spend $13 million on training employees, according to a 2017 [Training Magazine Report](https://trainingmag.com/top-spending-trends-training-2016-2017). By allowing an employee, who has mastered a unit, to teach that unit at the next training session, your company can save large amounts of money budgeted for training purposes.  Topics: [patient communication](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-communication) [Patient Friendly](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-friendly) [Industry News](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/industry-news) [Employee Education](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/employee-education) [Employee](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/employee) [medicaidbilling](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/medicaidbilling) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/how-to-increase-employee-value-and-its-benefits) ###### 3 min read ## [The Number One Complaint in Community Health - Customer Service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/the-number-one-complaint-in-community-health-customer-service) By [Emerald](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/author/emerald) on February 21, 2019 - 12:12 PM [![](https://www.emeraldar.com/hubfs/customerreviews_FQHC.jpg)](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/the-number-one-complaint-in-community-health-customer-service) A study of nearly 35,000 online reviews of medical billing office’s nationwide has found that customer service is patients’ chief frustration, not physicians’ medical expertise and clinical skill. Topics: [Community health](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/community-health) [FQHC](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/fqhc) [Revenue](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/revenue) [communication](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/communication) [patient communication](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/patient-communication) [customer service](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/topic/customer-service) [Continue Reading](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/the-number-one-complaint-in-community-health-customer-service) [All posts](https://www.emeraldar.com/blog/all) ### Featured ### Sign up for updates - [Contact Us](https://www.emeraldar.com/contact-us/) - [Patient Payment Site](https://youraccountcenter.com) - [Client Portal](https://clientportal.emeraldar.com) ###### Contact Us 866-299-8383 [info@emeraldar.com](mailto:info@emeraldar.com) Phoenix, AZ 85012 ©2019 Company Inc. 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