Tips for dealing with Returned Checks

[jake]

I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips on how you deal with a returned check.

Currently I do the following:

- Click "Sent to Collections" in the Patient tab.
- Go to the Bill that the check was returned on and add an adjustment. I do this by:
        - Click "Make Payment/Adjustment"

        - Click "Other"

        - Put a negative amount for the amount of the check (-XXX.XX) 

        - Select "Bad Check" which I had put in under Defaults. Then save the payment.

        - I then do another payment under "Other" for the finance charges of the bad check.

        - This puts an amount due on the patients account.



My problem I'm having is printing out a past due statement. It is only showing the Bad check transaction and nothing else. I know it is because I dont void the original payment from the check, but I was trying to keep that on the bill so I could keep track of the original check info.


So what I'm wondering, is there a better way? Also, if I void that original check payment that bounced will the void stay with the bill so I still have the info if I need it and will the purchased merchandise show up on the past due statement?    

[gracecrystalpm]

Hi,

This is what we did at my office for returned checks.

1. I created a bill code called returned check fee ($XX.00)

2. When I receive the returned check from the bank, I then create a new invoice and add that bill code in. (this way I know when the returned check came back)

3. Save the invoice and I posted a negative (-) check payment and in the memo i put returned check. (this way my total checks collected amount will go down by this and this is the way we wanted our reports to reflect instead of it showing up under other).

[jake]

Thanks Grace,

Good Idea.

[mdeyedoc]

Aug 26, 2015 6:24:11 GMT -6 gracecrystalpm said:

3. Save the invoice and I posted a negative (-) check payment and in the memo i put returned check. (this way my total checks collected amount will go down by this and this is the way we wanted our reports to reflect instead of it showing up under other).

But if you post a negative check payment, won't that make your bank deposit out of balance with your daily report totals?

Marcia

[gracecrystalpm]

Hi Dr. Dettloff,

Yes, but that's the way my doctor wanted it to show because the bank also took that amount out when it was returned.