No one else is in a better position to explain how the organization's community commitment, in turn, requires commitment from those in the communities served. The success of the collection department's program depends on shared decisions based on these policies being carried out from the time of admission, or earlier, always subject to re-evaluation as circumstances change. In elective cases, payment plans should begin on the day of admission so that the patient does not carry financial worry into the hospital bed. Third, the collection department should endeavor to eliminate all losses from bad debts, since all bad debts are collectible. All elements of the community judicial system can be expected to support this policy, assigning costs of collection to the debtor in contested cases.
Studies suggest that most so-called bad debt accounts are misclassified charity cases.
In all such cases, the patient should be reclassified as a charity case and should receive the same intensive support available for all charity cases. In fairness to those who meet their obligations, the department's unsuccessful collection efforts should be terminated only with the approval of the chief executive officer, not by a commercial transaction. Fourth, the collection department should make every effort to involve the patient's support system in each potential bad debt and charity case. With the patient's permission and active involvement, this includes not only the immediate and extended family, but also the human resources department of the employer, the family's credit sources, religious affiliations, neighborhood groups, organizations concerned about the patient's disease or disability, fraternal organizations, and more. Significant revenue can be generated from collaboration of these resources.