Hidden Traps for the Unwary: How to Meet TCPA and FDCPA Regulations…and Improve Your Multi-specialty Group Collections

Thursday, August 10,2017 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm CT 

With the vast majority of patients today using "mobile only" phones (and discarding their land lines) or providing their mobile numbers at the time of patient registration, the laws and regulations regarding "consent" to communicate via mobile or texting have not kept up with the technology and habits of modern day patients. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was enacted to prevent "robo-calling" without a consumer's consent but also created "gray areas" around when patients who provide mobile numbers may receive a call or text that they may have to pay for under their mobile phone plan. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was likewise enacted to address unscrupulous debt collectors using "sharp" or overly aggressive tactics to collect debtor balances. Collection agency practices were the intended target of the FDCPA but medical groups and their RCM Partners may become unknowingly entangled in FDCPA compliance issues.

Webinar Learning Points: 

  • Define background on the TCPA and FCC’s interpretations of the express consent requirements
  • Demonstrate whether the healthcare treatment exception may apply to communications with the patient
  • Relate context for the FDCPA and how it may impact “post billing” or back end communications with the patient
  • Explain how to avoid the hidden traps and to use these and other federal laws and regulations to assist in collecting the patient cost sharing
  • Interpret FDCPA compliance issues and learn best practices in avoiding them

Presenter:

Edward R. Gaines, JD, CCPChief Compliance Officer,Zotec Partners.png