Increasing up-front payments with a preservice financial checklist.

A consistent, well-thought-out approach, coupled with scripts for various situations, can enable registrars to initiate collections during preregistration. Technological solutions that verify eligibility and benefits, estimate patient out-of-pocket payments, and identify charity cases can better prepare staff for these dialogs. Billing staff who are well coached and armed with appropriate data can effectively converse with patients about their financial responsibility.