Unlock 5 Proven Strategies to Boost Payment Efficiency And Improve Cash Flow in Your Practice

Improving payment efficiency is not just about collecting faster. It is about creating clarity, convenience, and confidence for patients while reducing administrative strain on your team. Below are five proven strategies to help practices strengthen cash flow without sacrificing the patient experience.

1. Clearly Communicate Payment Expectations

Eighty percent of patients say they prefer understanding their financial responsibility before receiving care. Clear expectations reduce confusion, prevent uncomfortable conversations, and improve on-time payments.¹

Let patients know:

• When payment is due

• How payment will be collected

• How much they are expected to pay

Tip: Use pre-appointment emails, welcome messages, or patient portals to communicate payment expectations early.

2. Reduce No-Shows by Requiring Deposits

Collecting co-pays or deposits at the time of scheduling helps secure revenue and reduces last-minute cancellations.

When patients have a financial commitment tied to their appointment, they are more likely to show up and stay engaged.

Tip: Offer a simple online payment option during scheduling so patients can easily submit deposits upfront.

3. Enable Seamless In-Office and Over-the-Phone Collections

Payment collection should feel like a natural part of the patient experience, not an interruption.

Integrating payments into existing interactions, whether at the front desk or over the phone, improves efficiency and reduces follow-up work.

Tip: Equip your team with mobile payment devices or secure software that allows quick, frictionless transactions during patient interactions.

4. Boost Payments With Text-Based Invoicing

Text-based invoicing significantly improves payment speed. Forty-one percent of patients say a text message reminder would prompt them to pay faster.²

Sending payment links via text increases convenience and reduces administrative workload.

Tip: Incorporate text-to-pay links into your workflow by sending payment requests while the patient is still at the front desk after their appointment.

5. Serve More Patients With Flexible Financing Options

Flexible financing makes care more accessible. Seventy-six percent of patients are more likely to complete payment when offered a simple pay-over-time option.³

Payment plans help patients move forward with care while supporting steady cash flow for the practice.

Tip: Consider offering third-party financing services or structured in-house payment plans to meet a wider range of patient needs.

Final Takeaway

Payment efficiency improves when expectations are clear, options are flexible, and processes are convenient. By combining proactive communication, modern payment tools, and patient-friendly financing, practices can strengthen cash flow while delivering a better overall experience.

¹(Instamed Trends in Healthcare Payments, Fourteenth Annual Report).

²(Salucro 2023 Trends in Patient Payment Communications Report).

³(Citizens Point of Sale Survey).