If patients do not acknowledge financial counselling, what is the appropriate follow-up action ?
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.
Related questions
Why must we still provide financial counselling when the patient does not want it?
For financial counselling performed previously without a formal documentation, is there a need to re-counsel the patient and obtain a written acknowledgement under HCSA?
Can licensees conduct the financial counselling for their patients via online platforms?
Can acknowledgement of financial counselling by patients be performed over other forms (e.g. Email, SMS, Phone, Virtual Conference), instead of written form?
