Smart Pay Plus Flashcards
What is Optum’s SmartPay Plus solution?
SmartPay Plus is a cloud-based patient payment platform (an e-cashiering solution) offered by Optum that helps healthcare providers manage and collect payments from patients more efficiently . It provides a self-service portal for patients and integration with provider billing systems, simplifying each step of the payment collection process from pre-service to post-service.
What are the key features of SmartPay Plus?
Key features of SmartPay Plus include a self-service patient portal (with QuickPay for one-time payments and options for payment plans), a provider portal for in-person or phone payments, and omni-channel payment support (online, in-office, and a 24/7 phone payment system)  . It also has integrated merchant processing for credit/debit/HSA cards and provides detailed reporting and analytics so providers can track payments and account balances  .
What benefits does SmartPay Plus offer to healthcare providers and patients?
For providers, SmartPay Plus accelerates patient collections and increases revenue by making it easier for patients to pay, which means fewer outstanding bills . It also reduces administrative work and cost-to-collect through automation (payments post automatically, reducing manual tasks) . For patients, the solution offers a convenient, user-friendly payment experience – they can pay how and when they prefer (e.g., online or via phone, in installments), leading to higher satisfaction with the billing process
In what use cases or scenarios is SmartPay Plus most useful?
SmartPay Plus is most useful for healthcare organizations that need to streamline patient payments and improve collections in the face of rising patient financial responsibility. For example, hospitals and clinics use it to collect co-pays or deductibles before a visit, to take payments at the point of service (e.g. at discharge or check-out), and to manage bills after services are rendered . Essentially, any provider looking to offer flexible payment options (like self-service online payments or phone payments) and integrate those payments into their existing EHR/billing workflow can benefit from SmartPay Plus.
What distinguishes SmartPay Plus from other healthcare payment solutions?
SmartPay Plus stands out for its comprehensive integration and patient-centric design. Unlike basic payment portals, it offers multiple integration methods (embedded iFrames, APIs, and batch file integrations) to seamlessly plug into a provider’s EHR or billing system  . It’s also fully white-labeled and retail-like, meaning the patient interface can match the provider’s branding and provide a modern, familiar payment experience . Additionally, SmartPay Plus combines omni-channel payments (including an automated phone payment system) with built-in merchant processing in one platform, reducing the need for multiple vendors or separate payment gateways . This blend of flexibility, ease of use, and deep integration is a key differentiator for SmartPay Plus.
