10 ways to improve point-of-service patient collections

In 2025, 88% of covered workers were enrolled in a health plan with a general annual deductible, according to KFF. Among covered workers with a deductible, the average single-coverage deductible was $1,886, up from $1,320 in 2015. Thirty-four percent of covered workers were in plans with a deductible of $2,000 or more.

That makes patient collections a front-end revenue cycle issue, not just a back-end billing problem. Guidance from MGMA and Conifer Health Solutions notes that tracking point-of-service or cash collection rates helps practices assess financial viability, and that collecting patient responsibility at or before the time of service is more effective than trying to recover balances later.