Principle: Issue invoice promptly and specify payment date. Invoicing is the first priority: liquidation should be sent immediately after the end of the treatment and not at the end of the quarter or even later. The invoice at the end of the quarter could signal that the doctor does not take his fee seriously. Reminding the patient of this fact costs the practice team " time and money". At the end of the quarter, practices should check their accounts for unpaid invoices and all those who are 90 days or older should submit for collection.
Terms of payment: According to paragraph 12 GOÄ, a practice can specify a standard term of payment. For example, the term of payment could be: a claim is due immediately. Alternatively or in addition there is the indication that at the latest 30 days after the due date and receipt of the invoice according to § 286 Abs. 3 BGB without further reminder default occurs. Patients will accept such additional texts without further ado. The notice generally leads to faster receipt of payment.
Reminder after 30 days. Defaulting patients will receive the first reminder after 30 days at the latest, unless they have been made aware of paragraph 286, section 3 BGB. In this case, the law stipulates that default of payment occurs. Thus the prerequisite for a collection procedure is fulfilled. It is recommended to send a second reminder after 14 days, in which the patient is clearly informed about the consequences of the collection procedure. A copy of the invoice is enclosed. The common practice of sending 3 reminders at intervals of 30 days increases the risk for the practice team of being stuck with the unpaid invoice.