Healthcare Collection Agency

Professional Credit helps hospitals, health systems, physician groups, and other healthcare organizations recover outstanding patient balances through compassionate, patient-centered collection services. Backed by more than 90 years of experience, nationwide licensing, and HIPAA-compliant workflows, we improve recovery rates while protecting the patient experience and your organization's reputation.

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Proven debt collection results you can trust

90+

Years

Delivering trusted debt collection services since 1933

Supporting hospitals, health systems, and physician groups nationwide

570+ Healthcare Clients

high recovery rates

Clients experience recovery rates 5–10% above industry averages

99.999%

Just 1 complaint per 19,000 consumer contacts through our respectful, consumer-first approach

complaint free

Recognized for meeting rigorous standards in healthcare financial services since 2014 (learn more)

HFMA Peer reviewed

Real Testimonials from Our Healthcare Collection Clients

  • "Professional Credit has been an exceptional partner for our debt collection services. Throughout our partnership, they have consistently demonstrated excellence in technology, customer service, and compliance. Their staff handles sensitive financial matters with professionalism, courtesy, and empathy, helping us maintain positive relationships within our community. We have found Professional Credit to be a trustworthy and reliable partner and confidently recommend them to organizations seeking transparent, customer-focused collection services."

    Transportation Services Director at a Fire and Medical District in Arizona

  • “We have found Professional to take exceptional care in handling our accounts referred for collection. By treating our patients with the respect we wish to give them, Professional remains aligned with our beliefs and values.”

    Manager of Patient Financial Services at Northwest Health System

  • “By providing several options for outreach and payment, including payment plan support, we are meeting patients where they are and giving them a secure, seamless process to make financial arrangements.”

    Director at a Large Health System Located in the Northwest

How Our Debt Collection Services Work

Accounts can be placed in a variety of formats based on each client's preferences. New accounts are reviewed for accuracy, compliance, and readiness before collection activity begins.

1. Intake & Screening

We begin outreach using a thoughtful, data-informed approach that helps us tailor communication based on each account’s circumstances. Our process supports respectful, timely engagement while allowing us to adjust outreach as account information changes.

2. Initial Collections Activity

Our trained collectors leverage advanced technology to locate and reach out to patients. We persist with multiple contact attempts and employ skip-tracing methods through a network of data vendors with access to extensive databases.

3. Advanced Collections Activity

4. Legal Collections Activity

When appropriate, our in-house legal team provides additional support through a compliant, carefully reviewed process. We work closely with our clients to evaluate account circumstances and determine whether additional collection options may be appropriate.

Compassionate Patient Communication Backed by Behavioral Science

Professional Credit's commitment to a positive patient experience is one of the qualities that sets us apart from other healthcare collection agencies. We understand that every patient interaction reflects on your organization, which is why we approach every conversation with empathy, professionalism, and respect.

Behavioral science is a key component of our collection strategy. By applying research-backed communication techniques, we create more meaningful interactions that encourage engagement, improve recovery outcomes, and help preserve patient relationships. The following are some of the behavioral science principles our agents use when communicating with patients, whether they take place over the phone, in person, or through our digital engagement channels:

  • Empathy and Understanding

    Our agents show genuine empathy and understanding towards patients. Recognizing financial difficulties can be stressful and overwhelming for individuals can help build trust and open lines of communication.


  • Framing and Positive Reinforcement

    Our agents frame messages in a positive and solution-oriented manner. Instead of focusing on the negative consequences of unpaid debts, highlight the benefits of resolving the debt and the positive outcomes resulting from taking action.

  • Personalization

    Our agents tailor communication to individual patients based on their unique circumstances. Addressing them by name and acknowledging specific details about their situation can create a more personal connection, making it more likely for them to engage positively. 

  • Psychological Ownership

    Our agents encourage patients to take ownership of their accounts and the responsibility to resolve them. When individuals feel a sense of ownership, they are more likely to prioritize repayment.

COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY WITH OUR CLIENT TOOLS PORTAL

One of the biggest advantages of partnering with Professional Credit is the visibility you'll have throughout the collection process.

Our proprietary Client Tools Portal gives your team secure, 24/7 access to your collection data through one easy-to-use platform.

Whether you're checking on a single account or reviewing overall collection performance, you'll always have access to the information you need to stay informed.

With client tools, you can:

  • View every account placed for collections

  • Monitor collection activity in real time

  • Review every call, note, payment, and account interaction

  • Listen to recorded collection calls

  • Generate customized reports

  • Track payment history and recovery performance

  • Access account information securely from any device, 24/7

A Better Approach to Collections

Professional Credit combines healthcare expertise, compassionate communication, innovative technology, and proven recovery strategies to help healthcare organizations improve financial performance while protecting patient relationships.

Interested in learning more about how we can support your organization?

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security & compliance

At Professional Credit, protecting sensitive data and maintaining the highest standards of compliance is central to everything we do. We operate within a strict regulatory framework to ensure the security of client and consumer information at every stage of the revenue cycle.

Our organization adheres to industry-leading standards and undergoes regular third-party audits to validate the effectiveness of our controls. From data handling and storage to communication and account management, every process is designed with security, accuracy, and accountability in mind.

We maintain compliance with key industry regulations and certifications, including:

PCI Level 1 Compliant: Highest level of compliance under the PCI DSS.

FDCPA Compliant: Federal standards for third-party debt collection practices.

HIPAA Compliant: Protection of patient health information and privacy.

TCPA Compliant: Responsible phone and text communications that follow consent, calling-hour, and Do-Not-Call requirements.

SSAE 18 Compliant: Independent validation of internal control effectiveness.

BBB Accreditation: Commitment to ethical business practices, transparency, and responsiveness to customer concerns.

In addition, our team is trained on evolving regulatory requirements and best practices, ensuring we remain aligned with both federal and state guidelines.

By combining advanced technology, rigorous oversight, and a culture of accountability, Professional Credit provides clients with confidence that their data is protected and their reputation is safeguarded.

Client Success Stories

  • Improving Client Recovery Through Better Data

    We identified a missing data element during a quarterly business review that led to a 22% improvement in recovery after it was added to the client's placement file.


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  • Increasing Revenue with Targeted Settlement Programs

    A customized settlement strategy helped a healthcare client generate nearly three times more revenue per letter than standard collection efforts.

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  • Outperforming the Competition with Smart Segmentation

    By using our TIER scoring and segmentation strategy, we outperformed another collection agency in 10 of 12 months for a large health system.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Healthcare collection agencies

  • A healthcare collection agency is a specialized third-party organization that helps hospitals, health systems, physician groups, and other healthcare providers recover unpaid patient balances after their internal billing and collection efforts have been exhausted. Unlike general collection agencies, healthcare collection agencies understand medical billing, health insurance, patient financial responsibility, HIPAA requirements, and the regulations that govern medical debt collection.

    Healthcare collection agencies also use specialized collection strategies designed for the healthcare industry, including patient payment plans, digital payment options, insurance-related account support, and compassionate communication that helps protect the patient experience while improving recoveries.

  • Healthcare organizations typically send accounts to collections after insurance claims have been finalized, patient billing statements and payment reminders have been sent, and internal collection efforts have been unsuccessful. Many providers place accounts between 90 and 180 days after the first patient statement, although the timing varies based on the organization's revenue cycle policies, state laws, and payer requirements.

    Before referring an account to a collection agency, healthcare organizations should confirm that insurance claims and appeals have been resolved, financial assistance and payment plan options have been offered when appropriate, and all required patient notifications have been completed.

  • Most healthcare collection agencies work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they are paid only when they successfully recover funds on behalf of a healthcare provider. Depending on the type of accounts being placed, contingency fees typically range from 15% to 40% of the amount collected. Older accounts, lower-balance accounts, or accounts requiring legal action may have higher contingency rates.

    The final cost depends on factors such as account age, placement volume, balance size, and the services provided. Healthcare organizations should also ask whether there are any additional fees for services such as legal collections or skip tracing before selecting a collection partner.

  • Healthcare collection agencies protect patient information by complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), verifying patient identities before discussing account information, limiting the information shared during communications, and using secure systems to store and transmit protected health information (PHI). Healthcare collection agencies must also comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and follow the HIPAA "minimum necessary" standard, which limits the use and disclosure of patient information to only what is needed to perform collection activities.

    Many healthcare collection agencies also record and monitor collection calls, conduct ongoing compliance training, and perform regular quality assurance reviews to help ensure patient information is handled securely and consistently.

  • Yes. Many healthcare collection agencies offer patient payment plans that allow balances to be repaid over time through scheduled monthly payments. Payment plans can help healthcare organizations increase recoveries by making it easier for patients to resolve outstanding balances they may not be able to pay in full.

    Depending on the healthcare organization and collection agency, patients may also have access to online payment portals, automatic recurring payments, and multiple payment methods that simplify the payment process. Payment plan options should align with the healthcare provider's policies and any applicable financial assistance programs.

  • Healthcare collection agencies communicate with patients through mailed letters, phone calls, email, text messaging, secure online payment portals, and interactive voice response (IVR) payment systems. Many agencies also offer live chat, AI-powered virtual assistants, and self-service payment options that allow patients to review account information, make payments, set up payment plans, and ask questions at their convenience.

    Healthcare collection agencies must also comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and HIPAA when communicating with patients, helping ensure patient information is protected and communications are conducted in a respectful, compliant manner.