What is the first step in posting a payment to a patient's account?

The first step in posting a payment to a patient's account is to pull up the patient's account on the computerized program. This is essential because having access to the patient's account information allows for accurate tracking of their financial transactions and balances. By retrieving the account, the staff can view the patient's payment history, outstanding balance, and any applicable insurance information. This step ensures that the payment is applied correctly and helps avoid any discrepancies in the account.

Other options, while relevant in some contexts, do not serve as the initial step. Asking the patient how much they would like to pay assumes that the account details and amounts due have already been confirmed, which may not always be the case. Printing a receipt for the copayment cannot occur until the payment is actually posted, and verifying the amount due with the physician is typically unnecessary for routine payments, as this information should already be recorded in the patient’s account. Thus, initiating the process by accessing the patient's electronic record is crucial for proper payment posting.