Crown Connect Version 1.2.0

Release notes for version 1.2.0

We have some exciting updates in our first big release since Crown Connect has come out of beta. We made many changes underneath the hood to ensure Crown will be ready for all the new features we plan to release this year. You’ll also notice that most of the areas of Crown got a fresh new coat of paint, and most importantly, some additional features and tweaks suggested by your feedback.

Dashboard

Look at your transactions data daily, monthly, and yearly.
Show and hide the Transaction Summary panel. – Because there may be times you don’t want your patients to see all that Moolah you’re generating!

Payment Plans

Payment plans got the most significant overhaul in this release.

Creating Payment Plans

Add a down payment – the down payment gets deducted from the payment plan total.
When reviewing payment plans, you can now edit the date and amount per cycle to better customize the patient’s payment schedule.
Patient authorization – Send a text message to the patient to review their payment plan, read the terms and sign electronically. Authorization details can be referenced at any time in the payment plan details.

Editing Existing Payment Plans
Edit individual cycles in the schedule with the following capabilities:

Process a scheduled payment before its payment date.
Edit the date and amount per cycle.
Skip a payment, and move it to the next cycle.
Skip a payment, and move it to the last cycle.
Skip a payment, and move it to a new cycle at the end of the payment plan.

We hope this gives you the maximum flexibility in setting up and editing existing plans. Please let us know if we missed something.

Below is a video that walks you through all new payment plan features:

Online Payment Pages (NEW)

Some of you may already have a payment page through Moolah or have created a Poynt online payment link. Before this release, none of these online payment pages had any direct integration with Open Dental.

Crown now has integrated online payment forms! Easily configure your page and link directly to a branded page or embed the payment form directly on your website. Payments submitted through these new payment pages will post into Bride, and if we can make a proper match, we will automatically post the payment to the patient’s ledger in Open Dental. If we can’t make a match, you’ll get notified via email, as well as the Crown dashboard. From the Crown dashboard, you’ll be able to associate the correct patient, and we’ll post the payment to Open Dental.

Below is a video that walks you through how to create, distribute, and embed your payment form:

Pay by Text (Renamed)

We have renamed Pay by Text to Payment Requests; we think that’s a more fitting name since you can send via email too. Payment requests have the following additions:

Ability to copy the payment link. Link available in the header of the payment request details.
Reminder history

Settings

Settings got a visual overhaul and the following additions:

Open Dental – Multi-Clinic Support – Assign payments to the desired clinic.
Open Dental – Payment Types – Choose which payment type definition you want transactions assigned.*
Open Dental – Payment Allocations – Choose which payment allocation you want transactions assigned.*
Memberships – Create Terms and Conditions – Used for electronic review and approval.
Payment Plans – Create Terms and Conditions – Used for electronic review and approval.

* To take advantage of these new settings, the Crown app that runs on your Open Dental server will need to be upgraded. To request this upgrade, please contact us.

Card Management

Redesigned
Ability to remove all stored cards. (as long as a card isn’t attached to a payment plan and membership.)

What’s Coming – 2022 Roadmap

We have an exciting list of enhancements planned for 2022; here are a few of the things we’re working on:

Automatic procedure and provider allocations for terminal payments. (Coming in the next release)
Payment Plans – Deeper integration into Open Dental
Memberships – Deeper integration into Open Dental
Memberships – Membership page you can link to, giving your patients the ability to sign up for memberships directly through your website.
Insurance Payments – Process insurance reimbursements issued via credit card. (virtual or physical)
Payment Requests – Bring in a list of patients with outstanding balances and bulk send payment requests.
Payment Requests – Set up an automatic reminder schedule.
Payment Requests – Post requests to the Open Dental com log.
Text and Email Customization – Ability to customize any email or text communications to patients. Globally and individually.

Talk to us!

We’re always listening to enhancements requests to make Crown more powerful. Keep them coming, and you may see your request in a future release. If you need any assistance, please contact us.

Surcharge FAQ

What is a credit card surcharge?

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.

Can we surcharge debit 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.

Is there a limit on how much we can surcharge?

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.

Are we required to notify patients about the surcharge?

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.

Are there states where credit card surcharging is not allowed?

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.

Does Moolah determine whether we are compliant?

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.

Can we surcharge all credit cards?

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.

What happens if we are not compliant?

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.

Is surcharging supported in Flex?

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.

Surcharge Compliance

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.

Warning
The following is a general overview of credit card surcharging rules in the United States. Merchants are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable requirements.

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.