Healthcare is one of the biggest necessities and priorities in life. Additionally, healthcare is a business, and practically every type of health care also involves accepting and making payments. Because of this, healthcare payment processing is of the utmost importance. For healthcare providers, because of stringent requirements, and the sensitivity of providing healthcare services, payment processing involves not only making sure that you are paid for services provided, but that while accepting these payments, you are protecting customers’ privacy and information. The less you have to worry about payment processing, the more you can focus on providing quality care, so it is important to find a payment processor that can meet you and patients’ needs, and ease your mind.
There are many considerations for healthcare providers to make when choosing a payment processor. One of the primary considerations to make comes with security. In healthcare payment processing, the importance of security cannot be stressed enough. It is important to know that private patient information will be treated securely, which means that you will be protected from data breaches and fraud. It is also important to find a payment processor that is up to date. Outdated hardware or software can put patients’ private information at risk. You want a payment processor that will help you protect patient information and do so seamlessly.
When looking for a payment processor, you may wish to find someone that can provide flexibility to you and the patients you work with. Providing flexibility in payment options will make it easier for patients to pay you, and for you to get paid, which will improve patient satisfaction, and benefit patients as well as you. With healthcare payment processing, you want to provide the option of not only paying in person, but paying online, for example. You’ll want a processor who can easily integrate with your needs.
When choosing a payment processor, it is also important to look at fees. It is important to know what you are paying for, and that you are not going to get bills with surprise charges in them. Some payment processors have hidden fees, so when choosing your payment processor make sure you are fully aware of the fees you will be paying.
Take time to evaluate the options and find a payment processor that provides everything you need. Once you have chosen your payment processor, you will hopefully be able to rest assured that you will be getting paid while also giving your customers a convenient and secure payment experience. At Moolah, we provide best in class hardware, software, and support with a simple monthly fee structure. With simple pricing, excellent security, ease of access, and quick depositing, we hope you will consider Moolah for your healthcare payment processing needs.
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A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a transaction when a patient chooses to pay with a credit card. The surcharge is intended to help offset the cost of credit card processing and applies only to eligible credit card transactions.
No. Debit card transactions may not be surcharged under any circumstances, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction or entered manually.
Yes. Credit card surcharges may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and are capped at a maximum of 3% of the total transaction amount, in accordance with card-network rules and applicable law.
Yes. Card networks require clear and transparent disclosure of any credit card surcharge. Practices must notify patients through appropriate signage at the practice entrance, point of sale, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, the surcharge must also be clearly disclosed on the practice’s website.
Yes. Some U.S. states and territories prohibit or restrict credit card surcharging. Practices are responsible for understanding and complying with their state’s specific requirements before implementing a surcharge.
No. While Moolah provides tools and general guidance to support credit card surcharging, compliance with all applicable laws and card-network rules is the responsibility of the merchant. Moolah does not provide legal advice and assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance.
Most major credit card networks permit surcharging when done in accordance with their rules, but additional requirements or restrictions may apply. Practices should ensure they have completed all required network notifications and disclosures prior to enabling surcharging.
Failure to comply with surcharging rules may result in card-network fines, required refunds, or other enforcement actions. Practices should ensure they fully understand all applicable requirements before applying a surcharge.
Flex does not currently offer built-in support for credit card surcharging. If a practice chooses to enroll in a surcharge plan, payments would need to be processed through Moolah’s payment platform, which is designed to support surcharging and integrates directly with Open Dental.
If you are considering introducing a credit card surcharge for your patients, it is important to understand that there are specific rules and regulations that must be followed when enrolling in and operating under a surcharge plan.
This article provides a general overview of common surcharging requirements. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of each merchant to review, understand, and comply with all applicable laws, card-network rules, and regulatory requirements, including notification timeframes, signage requirements, surcharge percentage limits, and jurisdictions where surcharging is prohibited.
If you are unsure about the laws or regulations applicable to your practice, you should consult with qualified legal counsel. Moolah assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance or non-compliance with credit card surcharging rules or regulations.
Transparent Communication
Card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, require merchants to clearly and transparently disclose when a credit card surcharge is applied.
Practices must clearly notify patients of a credit card surcharge through appropriate signage placed at the practice entrance, at the point of sale or terminal, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, surcharge disclosures must also be clearly visible on the practice’s website. All disclosures must inform patients that the surcharge applies only to credit card transactions.
Surcharge Limits
Credit card surcharges must comply with both card-network rules and applicable law. The surcharge amount may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and may not exceed 3% of the total transaction amount.
Card-network rules cap credit card surcharges at 3%, meaning that if a merchant’s processing costs exceed this amount, the excess portion cannot be passed on to the patient.
Network and State Restrictions
The major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, impose specific requirements related to surcharge limits, advance notification, and disclosure.
In addition, several U.S. states and territories regulate or prohibit credit card surcharging. At the time of writing, credit card surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, impose restrictions on surcharge amounts or require specific disclosures.
If your practice operates in a state that restricts or prohibits credit card surcharging, you must fully understand and comply with those requirements before implementing a surcharge.
Debit card transactions may never be surcharged, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction.
Applicability
Credit card surcharges may be applied only to credit card transactions. Other payment types, including debit cards and alternative payment methods, are not eligible for surcharging.
Regulatory Compliance
Merchants are responsible for maintaining ongoing compliance with all applicable card-network and legal requirements. This includes meeting advance notification obligations, using compliant signage and disclosures, adhering to surcharge percentage limits, and respecting jurisdiction-specific restrictions.
By following these guidelines, dental practices can implement credit card surcharging in a way that aligns with card-network rules and promotes transparency with patients. Clear and upfront communication helps maintain patient trust and supports a positive payment experience.