Bill a panel patient and send the claim

From a panel or insured patient's visit to the money arriving. Bill to the panel at the counter, then invoice the panel or claim from the insurer.

A panel patient does not pay at the window. The bill goes on the panel's account, and the hospital collects from the panel later: a company or panel by a monthly invoice, an insurer or scheme by a claim.

A panel patient's bill at the Billing Counter with the Payer box set to the panel

Before you begin

• The panel exists on Panels & Insurers.
• The patient is linked to the panel on their registration, with a valid card. See Patients.
• Optionally the panel has its own prices on Price List & Tariffs.

Where to find it

Open Hospital → Finance → Billing Counter.

Bill the visit to the panel

1. Pick the patient. Pays as shows their panel.
2. Add the consultation, tests or procedures. Prices are the panel's prices when it has them.
3. In Payer, choose the panel.
4. Check Billed to panel.
5. Click Bill to panel, then Bill to panel & print.

No shift or payment is needed. The receipt still tells the patient where to go next.

Collect from a company or panel

1. At the end of the cycle, open Hospital → Finance → Panels & Insurers.
2. Click Statement on the panel.
3. Set From and To and click Invoice these bills.
4. Send the invoice to the company. Record its payment as a receipt against the panel's customer in Accounting.

Collect from an insurer or scheme

1. Open Hospital → Finance → Claims.
2. Click New claim, pick the bill and click Submit claim.
3. When the insurer answers, open the claim and record Approve, Mark paid or Reject.

See Claims.

What happens in the books

The panel bill debits the panel receivable (1615) and credits the department's revenue. The invoice moves it to the panel's customer ledger; a paid claim clears 1615 against the bank, with any short-payment written off to 5910.

Common questions

The counter refused the panel bill. The panel may be inactive, the patient's card expired, or the panel is over its credit limit. The message says which.

The patient wants to pay cash today. Choose Self-pay in Payer and collect as normal.

Can I void a panel bill? Yes, until it is on a panel invoice. After that it cannot be voided on its own.