The hospitals and clinics are now going after med-pay, even where the patient has private health insurance, because they know that the reimbursement is better.

- Make sure that your patient uses their health insurance, by asking your patient to contact their auto med-pay adjuster and instruct them to use med-pay to pay your bills:

- Even if the personal injury case has settled, there may be unused med-pay available for future treatment, but beware of the time limitations. Some companies like CSAA have a one year limit, while State Farm has 3 years.

- Keep up to date with the bill paying process. State Farm scans their bills. Form UB92 has been replaced by UC04.

- Fill out all documentation correctly and accurately. This means that you not only need to insert the correct codes, but if you fail to check "auto" on the form, there will be a delay in payment.

- If there are multiple patients in the same accident, one of the passengers may have med-pay in their policy, that could also be applicable;

- Even if there is no health insurance, and there is a weak or non-existent third party claim, a slip and fall in a commercial establishment may be reimbursable, as some companies have an independent med-pay plan; when the insurance companies attempts to adjust your bills, don't just accept the reduction;

- communicate immediately with them to ascertain the reason;

- If an attorney is representing your patient, utilize the services of the attorney if your efforts to be paid in full are not successful; (should be free service)

- In accident cases, don't be shy about asking for co-pays, even if small;

- Communicate early and regularly with the attorney about the status and value of a case so that you can maximize your efforts.