In billing practices, what does "follow-up payments" refer to?

Follow-up payments refer to the process of reviewing uncollected past-due amounts that have not been previously collected from patients or their insurance providers. This is a critical aspect of revenue cycle management in healthcare, as it involves assessing outstanding balances to identify accounts that require additional collection efforts. By focusing on past-due amounts, healthcare practices can improve their cash flow and ensure that they receive payment for services rendered.

In this context, revisiting overdue accounts is essential because it helps practices recover revenue that may otherwise be lost. This can involve contacting patients to remind them of their balances, negotiating payment plans, or working through collections processes. Understanding and implementing effective follow-up payment practices is vital for maintaining the financial health of a healthcare organization.

The other options, while related to billing practices, do not specifically focus on the review of uncollected amounts. Secondary claim submissions involve filing additional claims after the initial claim has been processed, while post-service collections assessments relate to evaluating payments after services have been provided. Insurance re-evaluation requests pertain to seeking a reassessment of claims by an insurer. All these practices play a role in the overall billing process, but they do not capture the essence of actively following up on outstanding debts.