December Collections Aren't Luck. They're System.

December Collections Aren't Luck. They're System.

Every December, collections drop 15-25% from November. Patients travel. Insurance deductibles reset Jan 1. People tighten spending.

Except at practices that plan for it.

Top practices run collections blitz in October and November. Aggressive outreach. Target patients with $2K+ outstanding balances. Offer payment plans. Run it hard when people aren't leaving for holidays.

By December 15, they've collected 40-50% more than they would in passive mode. Patients who paid in November don't owe in December. Those who didn't are easier to reach in early January.

System:

1. Run A/R aging report Oct 1. Flag balances >$1K.

2. October: three touchpoints (email, call, text). Offer 12-month payment plan, 2% discount if paid by Nov 15.

3. November: final push. Personal calls from dentist or office manager. "We'd hate to send this to collections."

4. December: focus on year-end cleanup. New year, fresh start.

5. January: Any balance >$3K, refer to collections agency (at cost).

Practices running this system report 8-12% increase in collections October-December. That's $15K-40K extra based on your production.

December isn't slower. It's different. Plan for it.