The intent of financial counselling is to keep patients informed of the charges. Acknowledgement from the patient must be obtained to avoid potential disputes. Even if a patient refuses detailed counselling, financial counselling could still be considered completed, as long as the patient is provided with the relevant information and acknowledges receipt of such information.

Patients reserve the right to refuse signing the financial counselling form. Patients can refuse signing the financial counselling form because they assess the financial counselling was not properly done or they were not satisfied with the financial counselling process. In such instances, institutions should redo the financial counselling. However, if patients refuse to sign the financial counselling form because they refuse to pay for treatment, institutions reserve the right to not provide the healthcare service to the patient.