What is the recommended action regarding a late medical-legal bill?

• A. Voluntarily add 10% plus 7% interest
• B. Deny the bill
• C. Ignore it
• D. Wait until you are forced to pay the penalty

Answer: (A)

When a medical-legal bill is paid late, the responsible party should handle it by acknowledging the late payment and including the applicable penalties and interest with the payment. The recommended action is to voluntarily add the late-payment penalty and interest to the bill, specifically 10% plus 7% interest. This approach shows good-faith compliance, helps prevent additional penalties or disputes, and generally leads to a smoother resolution. For example, a $1,000 late bill would be paid as $1,170 total if you apply a 10% penalty and 7% interest. Denying, ignoring, or delaying beyond the required penalties typically escalates costs and complications.