Balance Forward 

Here is a recommended systematic approach to bringing patient balances forward. Prior to each statement run, generate a report out of the old system that shows patients with only a patient balance (no more insurance outstanding).  These are the balances to bring into the new system.  Do this with each statement run to break up the project and ensure that you aren’t ever working with the same patient more than once. 

Create a batch that you will use for Balance Forwards. Pick a post date and use a description of Balance Forward. 

Patient Owes a Balance 

You will need to make a Balance Forward charge for each provider that a patient owes a balance to. As an example patient 1 has a total balance of $400.00, with $200.00 for Provider A, $100 Provider B, and $100 for Provider C.  Create an encounter for each of the provider's balance forward, so you would have a total of 3 encounters with a CPT of balance forward, with a different provider on each.  This will then allow you to apply the payments to the correct provider and result in accurate reporting. 

Use MISC for the Diagnosis and BALFWD for the CPT. Normally we use the date of the last business day before your GoLive for the DOS. 

Credit Balance Forward 

To create a credit balance forward, you will put in a payment for the amount of the credit with a note that it covers the forwarded credit from your old PM system.