Healthcare credit evaluation method

• US 20040111292A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: National Medsearch LLC
• Original Assignee: National Medsearch LLC
• Inventors: Hutchins, Patton A.
• Application Number:
  US10/314,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111292A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

The creditworthiness of a recipient of healthcare services is obtained by accessing a database containing credit information relating only to payment of healthcare-related charges by a plurality of healthcare recipients; retrieving the recipient'"'"'s payment history information; and evaluating the granting of credit using the payment history information retrieved. The database is also used to select a strategy to be used in collecting an overdue invoice to a healthcare recipient. A credit rating score is assigned to the delinquent recipient based on the payment history of the delinquent recipient as determined by information in the database, and each strategy is assigned a value corresponding to possible credit rating scores.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating the creditworthiness of a recipient of healthcare services comprising:

a) obtaining recipient identifying information;

b) accessing a database containing credit information relating only to payment of healthcare-related charges by a plurality of healthcare recipients;

c) retrieving recipient payment history information; and

d) evaluating the granting of credit using the payment history information retrieved.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of periodically adding information to said database relating to the payment history of one or more healthcare recipients.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said database is a computerized database accessible over the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said recipient identifying information includes the recipient'"'"'s social security number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said payment history information is in the form of a credit rating score.

6. A method for providing information relating to the creditworthiness of a recipient of healthcare services comprising:

a) providing a database containing credit information relating only to payment of healthcare-related charges by a plurality of healthcare recipients;

b) providing password access to said database to a user; and

c) transmitting to the user credit information relating to the payment history of a selected recipient identified by recipient identifying information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said database is a computerized database accessible over the Internet.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said recipient identifying information includes the recipient'"'"'s social security number.

9. A method for evaluating the overdue account of a recipient of healthcare services to select a collection strategy to be used with respect to said account comprising:

a) accessing a payment history database that includes credit information relating only to the healthcare payment histories of a plurality of recipients, including the recipient with said overdue account;

b) receiving information scoring the recipient based on the recipient'"'"'s previous healthcare payment history as indicated by said database; and

c) assigning said account to one of a plurality of collection strategies based on said scoring.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said database information is limited to the healthcare payment information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said database is comprised of information collected from healthcare providers selected from the group consisting of hospitals, clinics, physicians, and dentists.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said account is assigned a numerical score determined by the results of said scoring and each of said strategies is used for accounts with a given numerical score.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said collection strategies is to send at least one statement followed by at least one telephone call.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said collection strategies is to send at least one statement without a telephone call.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein one of said collection strategies is to immediately assign the debt to a third party for collection.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said data base is accessed over the Internet.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said credit rating score is provided as a numerical value.

17. A method for providing information relating to the credit history of a delinquent healthcare recipient for use in selecting a strategy to be used in collecting an overdue invoice to said recipient comprising:

a) providing a payment history database that includes credit information relating only to the healthcare payment histories of a plurality of healthcare recipients, including said delinquent recipient;

b) providing user password access to said database;

c) assigning a credit rating score to said delinquent recipient based on the payment history of said delinquent recipient as determined by information in said database; and

d) transmitting said credit rating score to the user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said credit rating score is transmitted over the Internet.