Three ways CarePay+ can help patients get the care they need

The cost of dental care and the loss of dental insurance create significant barriers for patients; the Patterson CarePay+ platform combines three functional modules—patient financing, in-house dental plans, and payment processing—to increase treatment accessibility and optimize clinic cash flow.

1. Patient financing

Key features

The CarePay+ Patient Financing solution provides a fast, patient-managed process for selecting financing options with an instant response to each inquiry without requiring personal financial documentation. An option for monthly payments is provided to spread the cost of treatment over time.

Clinical and operational impact

For the clinic, this means increased acceptance of comprehensive treatment plans (including implants, crowns, endodontics, and periodontal procedures) by reducing the initial financial barrier. Implementation requires training front-office and consultation staff on the product and the scenario for offering financing during treatment planning.

2. Dental plans

Key features

CarePay+ Dental Plans create in-house “discount plans” for patients without insurance or with limited payment options. The practice independently sets transparent plan prices; patients receive discounts on preventive care (professional hygiene, exams, X-rays) and on therapeutic procedures (crowns, endodontic treatments, etc.). Approvals occur in real-time without waiting periods.

Benefits for retention and cash flow

Plans contribute to increased patient retention and higher treatment acceptance; practices report prompt payments (possible within 24 hours) and a reduction in outstanding accounts receivable.

3. Payment processing

Functionality and integration

CarePay+ Payment Processing supports contactless and digital payment methods: credit/debit cards, EMV chip cards, digital wallets, HSA/FSA, ACH, QR codes, and text-to-pay. The solution integrates with the Eaglesoft practice management system, eliminating manual entry and payment reconciliation.

Security and compliance

When processing card transactions, it is important to consider PCI DSS requirements and the secure storage of payment data; the provider must ensure encryption and tokenization, minimizing risks for the clinic.

Expert commentary for dental practice

Practical steps for implementation

• Appoint a financial coordinator and conduct training on treatment presentation scripts that include financing options and plans.
• Integrate CarePay+ with your PMS (e.g., Eaglesoft) for automatic payment posting and reduced data entry errors.
• Develop standard protocols for informing patients about available options: written estimates, treatment plans with alternatives, and monthly payment calculations.
• Verify that payment processing procedures comply with PCI standards and patient data storage policies (HIPAA interaction, if applicable to payment information).

Metrics for monitoring effectiveness

• Case acceptance rate — the percentage of proposed treatment plans accepted by patients.
• Average days in A/R — the average number of days in accounts receivable.
• Collections rate — the percentage of billed amounts collected.
• Average patient payment and the average monthly payment amount under financing.
• Number of patients enrolled in dental plans (retention rate for plan members).

Conclusion

For a dental practice, integrating financing tools, in-house discount plans, and flexible payment processing can significantly reduce financial barriers for patients and improve cash flow metrics. The success of implementation depends on staff training, proper PMS integration, and monitoring key KPIs.