Overview
As technology continues to advance, so do the ways patients want to use it. Text payments might be the next best thing for revenue recovery. While making phone calls to patients was the best way to contact bad debt patients in the past, that has drastically changed. When Americollect looked at how patients wanted to be contacted, we found that being contacted via phone call has been replaced with text messaging as the new preferred method.
In 2025, the results were undeniable:
By utilizing text messaging, we experience a 45% increased payment portal utilization and a rise of 38% in self-service bad debt payment plans.
This text payment success is from Americollect’s ability to utilize the latest technology to reach patients where they want, when they want. By allowing patients to make payments with a simple click through a text message, we empower them to take control of their financial future.
The Challenge
In today’s world, connecting with patients is becoming more challenging. Caller ID makes it easy to ignore a call and physical mail is slow. As more people rely on newer forms of communication, Americollect researched innovative ways to make the right connections at the right time with the right people.
In addition to connecting with the right patient, we needed to ensure that we continued to meet our high compliance standards. We needed to find a cost-effective method that allowed us to communicate with bad debt patients now.
The Solution
Americollect researched different ways to accomplish this task and found that a text message with a clickable link met the requirements. Taking advantage of text payment technology was key to reaching the right patients at the right time.
Key Positives of Text Payments:
- Cost Effective: Sending a text message costs less and takes less time than outbound calls, saving our clients from the start.
- Positive Interaction: By connecting with patients the way they want, they are more likely to interact. Americollect text messaging makes patients feel in control of the situation, making them more likely to pay.
- Opting not to Opt Out: Saying “do not call me” is an easy way to stop contact from a debt collector. Text messages are less intrusive, and patients do not feel the same anxiety when receiving one, so they are less likely to opt out of this communication.
The Results
After launching text payments in 2025, Americollect began seeing immediate results. Through mid-August Americollect has seen payment portal utilization and self-service payment plans increase by 45% and 38% respectively. Meanwhile, the opt out rate has stayed low at just over 1%.
Conclusion
Technology advances and so do the ways patients use it. Staying on top of the best ways to utilize that technology for our clients keeps us – and our clients – from falling behind. Text payments with a clickable link is the next way to connect with your patients to recover the revenue you’ve earned. To find out how Americollect can use text payments to your advantage, contact your Ridiculously Nice sales representative today!
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The content provided in this communication (“Content”) is presented for educational and general reference purposes only. Americollect, LLC and/or AmeriEBO LLC either directly or indirectly through speakers, independent contractors, or employees (collectively referred to as “Americollect”) is providing this Content as a courtesy to be used for informational purposes only. The Contents are not intended to serve as legal or other advice. Americollect does not represent or warrant that the Content is accurate, complete, or current for any specific or particular purpose or application. This information is not intended to be a full and exhaustive explanation of the law in any area, nor should it be used to replace the advice of your own legal counsel. By using the Content in any way, whether or not authorized, the user assumes all risk and hereby releases Americollect from any liability associated with the Content.