For healthcare providers, drawing in new patients can be a challenge. It is hard enough to keep existing patients. Adding new ones can take a lot of work. But in order for your practice to grow, it is necessary to add a steady flow of new patients. Whether it’s through asking your patients to provide online reviews, or providing great service with enhanced healthcare payment solutions, there are many ways you can draw in new patients and grow your practice.
Online reviews are a great source of insight for people looking for a new place to shop, eat, or get a particular service, and this is no different for those looking for a healthcare provider. Reviews can be enough to make or break someone’s decision about their next healthcare provider, and help prospective patients determine where to go for their healthcare needs. With this in mind, it can be very useful for your healthcare practice to encourage online reviews, and positive ones at that. Ask your patients to review your practice. There are a variety of sites where they can do so. If you need to, you can provide incentives for this. It is sure to be worth it, as these reviews can bring in new patients and help you grow your practice.
It is not easy for everyone to come in during normal business hours. For some perspective patients, this is just not an option. Because of that, it is important to provide schedule flexibility. Provide options for patients to come in before or after work, even if it is only on certain days of the week. This will likely help you appeal to more patients and grow your practice.
A great way to get more patients is to promote your practice in the community. Participate in community events. Give seminars about specific healthcare concerns, and join in fundraising for local school activities, if applicable. Marketing can often be a tiring concern, but making every effort to get your name out there so people in the community know about you in these low-cost ways can be low-hanging fruit in the effort to build recognition in the community.
Referrals can be a great way to get new patients. Word of mouth goes a long way. Encourage your patients to provide referrals to people they know, whether it’s friends, family members, or colleagues. You can even provide incentives for referrals, too. This will likely make it more appealing for your patients to help you.
For some patients, payment may be the most dreaded part of a healthcare visit. It is important that you make it easier for your patients by making it convenient for them to pay. That means providing a variety of healthcare payment solutions. Make sure your business takes credit and debit cards. You may also want to provide touchless, NFC payment options, such as Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. This will go a long way in easing the payment process for your patients. Moolah knows the importance of providing enhanced healthcare payment solutions. We do our best to help healthcare providers make accepting payments pain-free. We even provide the Poynt Smart Terminal, a payment terminal that accepts all major types of payments, for free to all account holders. When you invest in your practice with updated technology, it reflects well on your practice, enabling current and future patients to put their trust in you.
Thank you for scheduling. If you have any questions, please contact us at 800-625-1670.
A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a transaction when a patient chooses to pay with a credit card. The surcharge is intended to help offset the cost of credit card processing and applies only to eligible credit card transactions.
No. Debit card transactions may not be surcharged under any circumstances, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction or entered manually.
Yes. Credit card surcharges may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and are capped at a maximum of 3% of the total transaction amount, in accordance with card-network rules and applicable law.
Yes. Card networks require clear and transparent disclosure of any credit card surcharge. Practices must notify patients through appropriate signage at the practice entrance, point of sale, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, the surcharge must also be clearly disclosed on the practice’s website.
Yes. Some U.S. states and territories prohibit or restrict credit card surcharging. Practices are responsible for understanding and complying with their state’s specific requirements before implementing a surcharge.
No. While Moolah provides tools and general guidance to support credit card surcharging, compliance with all applicable laws and card-network rules is the responsibility of the merchant. Moolah does not provide legal advice and assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance.
Most major credit card networks permit surcharging when done in accordance with their rules, but additional requirements or restrictions may apply. Practices should ensure they have completed all required network notifications and disclosures prior to enabling surcharging.
Failure to comply with surcharging rules may result in card-network fines, required refunds, or other enforcement actions. Practices should ensure they fully understand all applicable requirements before applying a surcharge.
Flex does not currently offer built-in support for credit card surcharging. If a practice chooses to enroll in a surcharge plan, payments would need to be processed through Moolah’s payment platform, which is designed to support surcharging and integrates directly with Open Dental.
If you are considering introducing a credit card surcharge for your patients, it is important to understand that there are specific rules and regulations that must be followed when enrolling in and operating under a surcharge plan.
This article provides a general overview of common surcharging requirements. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of each merchant to review, understand, and comply with all applicable laws, card-network rules, and regulatory requirements, including notification timeframes, signage requirements, surcharge percentage limits, and jurisdictions where surcharging is prohibited.
If you are unsure about the laws or regulations applicable to your practice, you should consult with qualified legal counsel. Moolah assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance or non-compliance with credit card surcharging rules or regulations.
Transparent Communication
Card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, require merchants to clearly and transparently disclose when a credit card surcharge is applied.
Practices must clearly notify patients of a credit card surcharge through appropriate signage placed at the practice entrance, at the point of sale or terminal, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, surcharge disclosures must also be clearly visible on the practice’s website. All disclosures must inform patients that the surcharge applies only to credit card transactions.
Surcharge Limits
Credit card surcharges must comply with both card-network rules and applicable law. The surcharge amount may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and may not exceed 3% of the total transaction amount.
Card-network rules cap credit card surcharges at 3%, meaning that if a merchant’s processing costs exceed this amount, the excess portion cannot be passed on to the patient.
Network and State Restrictions
The major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, impose specific requirements related to surcharge limits, advance notification, and disclosure.
In addition, several U.S. states and territories regulate or prohibit credit card surcharging. At the time of writing, credit card surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, impose restrictions on surcharge amounts or require specific disclosures.
If your practice operates in a state that restricts or prohibits credit card surcharging, you must fully understand and comply with those requirements before implementing a surcharge.
Debit card transactions may never be surcharged, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction.
Applicability
Credit card surcharges may be applied only to credit card transactions. Other payment types, including debit cards and alternative payment methods, are not eligible for surcharging.
Regulatory Compliance
Merchants are responsible for maintaining ongoing compliance with all applicable card-network and legal requirements. This includes meeting advance notification obligations, using compliant signage and disclosures, adhering to surcharge percentage limits, and respecting jurisdiction-specific restrictions.
By following these guidelines, dental practices can implement credit card surcharging in a way that aligns with card-network rules and promotes transparency with patients. Clear and upfront communication helps maintain patient trust and supports a positive payment experience.