Many DCs are intrigued by cash discounts. If you have decided to try it in your practice, we're ready to help.
Posted in Credit Card Processing on Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Your success is important to us. We understand there are many cash discount programs out there. If you’re ready to try one, we want to help. You can easily get it up and running on a trial basis.
Get Things Started
The cash discount program is on a month-to-month basis, so you can start on the first of any given month. Call us at least one week before you want to begin.
Equipment
When starting a cash discount program, it’s usually best if we send you new processing equipment. This is at no additional cost to you, and helps ensure a seamless transition.
There are cases when we can reprogram existing equipment, but that’s not ideal. Equipment would need to be reprogrammed when you are ready to switch it over. You likely won’t have any problems switching over but if you do, you don’t want to lose processing time to correct the problem.
Practice Preparations
You’ll need to take care of a couple items before you roll out the cash discount.
- Signage — Have signs clearly posted that explain the prices and cash discount policy. This is a requirement of the major credit card companies, but it also makes sense as a courtesy to your patients. You will receive signs with your new terminal.
- Staff — Make sure your staff fully understands how the cash discount program works. They should be ready to explain it to patients. Keep in mind that some patients may be upset, especially if they mistakenly believe they are overpaying when they use a credit card. Your staff will need to explain that when they pay by credit card, they are paying the regular price and if they pay by cash, they would get a discount.
Watch the Results
Once your cash discount program is underway, see how it goes. You are not locked into a specific timeframe for the trial period.
Signs of Success or Otherwise
If the amount you’re paying for accepting credit cards goes down and patients seem receptive, those are indicators of success! If you see a decrease in sales or your customers are complaining, you may want to reconsider.
Just make sure you give the program a chance. It may take at least 2-3 months or longer to see a real difference.
If You’re Happy with the Program
If you are happy with the way the cash discount program is going, just continue it! You don’t even need to contact us.
If You Want to Switch Back
If you find that offering a cash discount doesn’t work for your practice and patients, call us so we can switch you back to traditional credit card processing on the first of the following month. You won’t need a different terminal; we can simply reprogram the one you have.
Health Care Provider Considerations
It is important to keep in mind that as a health care provider, a cash discount program will likely be more complicated. There are legal issues and implications at the state and federal levels. It could affect payments for Medicare, insurance copayments, HSAs, and more.
Next Steps
We are here to help you. If you are ready to take the next step toward cash discounts, let’s talk. We can tell you more about rates and other details. Give us a call at 800-396-7157.
We recommend that health care providers consult an attorney for specific legal advice before implementing a cash discount program.
The credit card processing program is offered by NCMIC Finance Corporation.