How to Correct Balance Discrepancies Across Practice Locations

Balance discrepancies across Practice Locations (often created by posting charges or payments to the wrong Practice Location) can be corrected using the using the miscellaneous credit and miscellaneous debit adjustment types.

Users can post a pair of related, offsetting balance adjustments to the Patient Ledger to move money internally between Practice Locations, resolving the balance discrepancy for the patient account. This allows you to post the necessary adjustments without affecting the patient's overall balance amount.

To correct a balance discrepancy across practice locations:

1. Navigate to the Patient's Ledger.
   
2. Use the Locations filter in the left side panel to see which locations are affected by the balance discrepancy. 
   
3. Under Actions, click Adjust Balance. The Adjust Balance window is displayed.
4. Select Misc Credit.
5. Select the Location to apply the credit. 
6. Use the Date field to enter the service date for the credit. 
7. Select the Misc Credit Type from the list.
8. Enter the Misc Credit amount. The Adjusted Balance is calculated.
9. Use the Comments field to enter the reason for the miscellaneous credit.
   
10. Click Save Changes.
11. Under Actions, click Adjust Balance. The Adjust Balance window is displayed.
12. Select Misc Debit.
13. Select the Location to apply the debit.
14. Use the Date field to enter the service date for the debit. 
15. Select the Misc Debit Type from the list.
16. Enter the Misc Debit amount. The Adjusted Balance is calculated.
17. Use the Comments field to enter the reason for the miscellaneous debit.
    
18. Click Save Changes. The patient's balance remains the same as it was prior to the adjustments, and the Piggy bank/Balance Discrepancy icon is no longer displayed on the Patient Ledger (or in any other associated financial areas such as the Accounts Receivable list). 

Note: The patient's overall balance does not change and remains correct as long as both sides of the transaction are posted. If done correctly, only the location-based balances are adjusted. Posting only a miscellaneous credit or only a miscellaneous debit will alter balances incorrectly. 

See How to Adjust a Patient Balance for more information.