Understanding the Cancelation Fee
LifeCare Therapy Services is committed to minimizing the negative impact of poor attendance on patient care and clinical operations. Missed appointments can:
Delay progress toward therapy goals and desired outcomes.
Result in lost work time and revenue for the treating therapist.
Prevent other patients from accessing needed therapy services.
Patients are expected to provide at least 24 hours' notice if they need to cancel a scheduled appointment. If a patient cancels with less than 24 hours' notice or fails to attend a scheduled appointment without notice, a $50.00 cancellation/no-show fee may be charged to the patient's account. This fee is the patient's responsibility and cannot be billed to Medicare or any other insurance payer. The cancellation fee is paid directly to the therapist.
Patients who accumulate three (3) or more cancellations and/or no-shows during a plan of care may be discharged from therapy services due to noncompliance.
LifeCare Therapy Services recognizes that emergencies occur. Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for circumstances such as hospitalization, medical emergencies, or sudden illness. Patients acknowledge and agree to this policy by signing the Authorization and Informed Consent form during their initial evaluation.
What This Means
We Do Not Charge When:
The patient is hospitalized.
The patient experiences a medical emergency.
The patient has a sudden illness or other valid extenuating circumstance.
We May Charge When:
The patient cancels for non-medical personal activities (for example, hair appointments, social engagements, or recreational activities).
The patient provides less than 24 hours' notice without a valid reason.
The patient does not show for a scheduled appointment.
If We Receive the Fee, We Give to the Therapist
Cancellation/no-show fees that are collected are paid directly to the treating therapist for the missed visit. Payment is included in your biweekly pay.
What You Need to Do
When a late cancellation or no-show occurs:
Document the visit as a Missed Visit in InsightGo and record the reason for the cancellation or no-show in the Appointment Note section.
Communicate the cancellation policy to the patient and/or caregiver at the time of the missed visit and remind them of the potential fee and attendance expectations.
Notify the office through HUCU so the Billing Team can follow up with the patient to collect the fee.
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