Patent ID: 7885836

Claim:
A computer integrated payment system directed to the care of a subject, said system comprising: a care planner, accessed via a computing device, for accurately approximating the costs for the subject during the course of care; an insurance verifier and estimator, accessed via a computing device, that identifies the portion of the costs for the course of care of the subject that is covered by the subject's insurance, wherein said approximated costs less the covered insurance leaves a subject payment; a discount planner, accessed via a computing device, that evaluates the application of at least one discount to the subject payment, wherein the at least one discount includes a prompt payment discount; and, a payment planner, accessed via a computing device, that enables a payment arrangement for the subject for the subject payment less any applied discounts, wherein increased functionality of the computer integrated payment system is achieved using automated integration of said care planner, said insurance verifier and estimator, said discount planner and said payment planner and providing the ability to communicate in and among at least two of said care planner, said insurance verifier and estimator, said discount planner and said payment planner, wherein, when prior to the subject being discharged from the course of care, said prompt payment discount is determined to be 10% when a balance of the subject payment is less than $1000.00, and 15% when the balance of the subject payment is equal to or greater than $1000.00; and when after discharge of the subject from the course of care, but within 30 days of said prompt payment discount being offered, said prompt payment discount is determined to be 5% when the balance of the subject payment is less than $1000.00, and 10% when the balance of the subject payment is equal to or greater than $1000.00.