Frequently Asked Questions

AMS is here to help solve your accounts receivables issues.

Working with AMS

What type of accounts do you collect?

Healthcare Receivables, Consumer Debt, and Commercial Collections.

What sizes of accounts do you cover?

We work with a wide range of balance sizes. Accounts must have a balance of at least $50.00 to be serviced for collections.  

What states do you collect in?

We work extensively with creditors in states on the west coast, Texas, and New York.

What technology do you use?

AMS strives to stay ahead of the technology curve, reviewing and utilizing the latest technology including:
– Machine Learning tools (AI)
– Predictive Dialing
– Skip Tracing

Are you mean or rude to late-paying patients?

Never. You could describe us as relentlessly friendly. Your patients are our neighbors, too. A professional, solution-focused approach is built into our culture. Healthcare collections requires a different skillset. We always strive to remain respectful to everyone we contact while managing your accounts.

Is it possible to collect from patients – yet keep them as patients?

Yes. AMS has proven our ability to offer a “layer of insulation” between you and your patients during the recovery process, helping to preserve your provider/patient relationship. It’s a strategy proven extremely effective for our clients over the past 20 years.

Does AMS report accounts to credit agencies?

All eligible accounts over $500.00 are reported to Experian according to applicable law and the regulations set by the credit bureau. Generally, accounts are reported 60 days after assignment.

Can AMS guarantee recovery of my accounts?

No. We’ll work to identify what is collectable and help you understand why a specific account might not be. If an account can be collected, we’re confident that our expansive resources will work to ensure the best chance at recovery. Our knowledge in pursuing “multiple payment sources” including slow-pay and no-pay patients, attorneys, third parties, and various restitution funds, assures that every possible effort to recover non-performing accounts is put into play.

How long has AMS been in business?

We’ve been here since 1999. We believe that the relationships with our clients are more than just the services we provide. We consider our clients as partners, and therefore we conduct our business with a long-term strategy, knowing that our clients are the reason we’ve remained in business all these years.

Compliance

Is AMS compliant with HIPAA regulations?

We have safeguards in place to protect your medical practice by adhering strictly to all state and federal laws that govern Protected Health Information. Our in-house Compliance Officer and on-going training provides an environment of HIPAA compliance that ensures the highest standards of data privacy.

Is AMS compliant with State & Federal Regulations?

Our staff endures extensive training in both state and federal regulations that govern our industry including data security, FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, and HIPAA. We also partake in regular training surrounding topics related to the CFPB, FCC and case law affecting our industry.

Getting Started

What do you need to complete the onboarding process?

After our Servicing Agreement and Business Associate Agreement are received, we will set up a login for you on our online client portal. The portal allows for new accounts to be uploaded, reports to be run and secure messaging to be transmitted. We can also accept accounts via fax or US mail.

Is there a minimum number of accounts or dollar amount to start collections?

We capably handle a full range of creditors from those who assign us thousands of cases at a time all the way to small businesses who have a single account. Account balances must be $50.00 or more to be serviced for collections.

What documentation do you need to start collecting on a bad debt?

We’ll need an itemized invoice showing all corresponding dates, charges, payments, write-offs and the total balance due. We’ll need the consumer’s demographics including full name, address, date of birth and/or social security number along with any phone numbers you have on file. Lastly, we’ll need a signed financial policy, treatment agreement, contract, etc. along with any other pertinent documentation to validate the debt.

Then what happens?

We will tailor a recovery strategy to your expressed needs or we’ll use the most effective methods available in the absence of client preference. A first collection notice is mailed to the consumer immediately upon assignment per state and federal regulations. We will then assign a Collection Specialist to the account/portfolio for review and liquidation. Predictive dialing campaigns, manual dialing, letter campaigns and credit reporting are utilized throughout the collection cycle.

How do I know what progress you’ve made on my accounts?

As your receivables management partner, we will provide you with:

– Confirmation the moment an account is assigned and entered into our system in the form of an Acknowledgement Report.

– Monthly remittance advisory including a clear and concise breakdown of all accounting activity on the accounts that have been assigned to us.

– Complete overview of your assigned inventory including age of assignment, the percentage recovered and the current status of all active accounts (available 24/7 through our client portal. Otherwise, a status report will be available upon request).

Account Receivables Industry Tips

Why does my company need a collection agency?

Our expertise as a well-established and fully-compliant healthcare receivables agency will help to increase your bottom line. We understand the complexities and constant changes facing our industries and how to effectively deal with them. We serve to function as your in-house recovery team without adding to your payroll expenses. This frees your staff to focus on your business while entrusting us with your receivables.

When should I start using a collection agency?

Most of our clients utilize our services once their receivables have aged more than 120 days. Accounts have the highest rate of recovery within the first 6-12 months from the date incurred. Waiting too long to use a collection agency will lower your potential recovery rate on your receivables portfolio.

Why is a letter from a collection agency more effective than an invoice from an in-house billing team?

Receiving a collection notice from a licensed collection agency instinctively carries more weight than a past due notice. Most consumers understand that an account in collections creates a sense of urgency to resolve their outstanding balance.

How many letters should I send before sending my accounts to collections?

We suggest our clients have a letter series in place before sending the account to collections. Our experience in best billing practices is a three to four letter sequence with an increasing sense of urgency. The Final Notice should have a short deadline with messaging indicating that the account will be sent to collections if not paid by the deadline.

How old can an account be to legally collect it?

The statute of limitations varies from state to state, but for many states (including California) it is 4 years from the charge-off/breach date. We consider the last date of service for medical debt as the charge-off date. Although the statute of limitations applies to litigation matters, we aim to abide by the statute when it comes to accepting accounts for collections.