Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-12-11
NUMBER %
DOCTORS BILLS.
A New York Company That Collects
Money Owed by Patients.

A New York Company That Collects
Money Owed by Patients.
"The incorporation Of g company to
collect the bills due to physicians, said
doctor, "is another step that shows
the remarkable change which has been
gradually taking place in the business
methods Of the profession. Who would
have thought 20 years ago, or for that
matter 10 years ago, Of physicians
collection company, which should have
for its object to collect by suit and
otherwise debts and obligations due and
owing to physicians and other persons
and to distribute among physicians and
other persons from time to time record
of the financial condition of other per-
sons and also to distribute among ply
sicians and other persons records show
ing the promptpess and readiness OF
physicians clients and other persons to
pay their debts and obligations due and
owing to physicians for services and
also for all other like purposes of the
same general character. A physician
Ill N6M 4 Olh ~ JCth1o eeoc
would have been astonished at the pro-
posal of company to do any such bust
ness, for in those days it was customary
for doctor to be satisfied with only
certain share of the money that was
owing to him. 1t used to be said that
the doctor who was able to collect halt
of what was owing to him was fortunate
beyond the usual experience Of his pro-
fession.
"But that state Of affairs has been
changing every year, and physicians
have come to look upon their compensa-
ton and the collection of the amounts
owing to them with the same keen bust
ness sense that men in other occupations
do, and the old idea of being satisfied
with only certain proportion has long
since passed away. The doctor wants all
that be asks for his services just as any
other business man does. The recently
formed company marks the final step IN
the changed methods of doctors business
ways. 1 should think that one result Of
it might lie decrease in prices The
rate of physicians charges was usual
ly based on the anticipation of difficulty
and delay i'll collecting the bills and
with an allowance for that percentage
which might not be collected at all.
With such thorough means of collection
as the new company contemplates there
will be less money lost less delay about
collecting it, and the condition of the
doctor will be improved altogether in
business way.
1.-THE present complaints against the
dispensaries, which, the doctors say, are
injuring them, afford another reason
for decrease in doctors rates. Only
the other day heard young physi-
clan complaining of the difficulties
which beginner met through the free
treatment to be had at the dispensaries.
I heard the other day that one Of the
city hospitals had not published any
statement CT its income for several years
because its profits through the dispen-
sary practice had been SO large that it
would certainly have attracted atten-
ton. That question of the dispensaries
faces every young doctor today, and it
seems to me that more aggressive meth
DDS in collecting bills from their pa
tients may contribute to the disadvan-
tageous favor in which dispensaries
have come to be held, or lead to re-
duction in the rate of physicians
charges. New York Sun.