Forte Medical

Forte Medical runs medical billing and accounts management for doctors' practices in South Africa and other healthcare providers, taking the administration of claims and payments off the practice's hands. It offers the service as a turnkey outsourced arrangement for practices of every size and speciality. The company describes its purpose as keeping a patient's health at the centre of care, while looking after the accounts the practice depends on. Its offices are in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Claims captured correctly the first time

Claims are captured right the first time and on time, the company says. Patient details and records are checked for correctness before submission. Claims go to medical aids in real time, and claims for private patients and medical aids are submitted when and where they are required, so the practice is not left waiting on paperwork.

Collections that follow the medical aid rules

Collections cover the medical aid payments and the member portions that patients owe, along with private patient accounts. The company says it constantly checks and updates medical aid tariffs, so claims reflect current rates, and that it works to make sure both the medical aid share and the member portion are collected. It argues that a claim right first time gets paid sooner, because cash reaches the practice instead of sitting unpaid on the books.

Reconciliation, reports and an audit trail

Every remittance is reconciled against the practice's accounts, and the business bank statement is reconciled to match the private and medical payments received, so the books balance. The company says every claim processed leaves a full electronic audit trail. Reports are available on demand as well as at month end, so the practice always knows where its accounts stand.

A help desk for accounts enquiries

A professional help desk handles accounts enquiries from patients, which the company says frees the practice's own staff for other work. Patient, claim and accounts data is backed up periodically and securely in off-site locations.

Turnkey outsourcing with a focus on cash

The company says its service lets partners concentrate on expert medical care while it manages timely and accurate revenue collection from medical insurers and private patients. Its stated goals are higher service revenue, lower overheads, more time for patients and steadier cash flow. It describes its people, processes and technology as the foundation of the work, with customer service as a priority.

Forte Medical is an outsourced medical billing and accounts management bureau in South Africa. It captures and submits claims, chases payments and keeps accounts reconciled so that doctors can spend more time with patients. The head office is in Midrand, Johannesburg, with a branch in Bellville, Cape Town.

Products and services

• Claim capturing and submission: checking patient details and sending claims to medical aids in real time.
• Collections: gathering medical aid and patient portions, including private patient accounts.
• Reconciliation: matching remittances and business bank statements to the practice's accounts.
• Tariff updates: keeping medical aid tariffs current.
• Accounts help desk: handling patient queries about their accounts.
• Reporting: on-demand and month-end reports, with a full electronic audit trail and off-site backups.

Customers and markets

Medical practices of all sizes and specialities across South Africa.

Key facts

• Based in: Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Branch: Bellville, Cape Town
• Also known as: Forte Medical Solutions