Discover what Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) is and how it can improve your practice’s billing and patient experience.
In 2025, patient balances after insurance accounted for a significant portion of practice revenue. Moving forward, patient financial responsibility will continue to increase, and practices will feel even more pressure to collect what they're owed before or after each visit. This trend places a strain on patients who face higher out-of-pocket costs as well as the staff responsible for collecting them. As these pressures grow, practices will increasingly rely on solutions such as Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) to simplify collections for both patients and staff.
Front-office staff often juggle heavy workloads, spending significant hours on manual billing tasks like printing statements, addressing envelopes, and making phone calls. The American Hospital Association's Cost of Caring reported that labor and administrative pressures remain among the top operational challenges for healthcare organizations.
At the same time, patients have come to expect digital convenience in every part of their lives. Digital convenience has become the standard across retail, banking, and everyday services, and healthcare billing follows suit. The J.P. Morgan 2024 Trends in Healthcare Payments Report found that 75 percent of consumers want to pay their medical bills online.
If your practice is still heavily reliant on paper statements and phone calls, you're likely feeling this disconnect. Fortunately, there's a more efficient way to manage patient payments that saves time, cuts costs, and improves the patient experience. It's called Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP), and it's the smarter way for modern healthcare practices to handle billing.
What Is Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP)?
Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) allows companies to send digital reminders, view statements through a payment portal or other systems, and accept payments via a secure electronic interface rather than relying solely on paper statements. This digital-first model transforms traditional billing workflows by eliminating mail delays, reducing manual data entry, and streamlining the entire revenue cycle. Instead of waiting days or weeks for paper to move through the mail, EBPP delivers statements instantly, creating a simple, convenient payment process for patients. As more consumers prefer to manage bills on their phones or computers, EBPP has quickly become the new standard for modern billing.
How Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) Works in a Healthcare Setting
In a healthcare setting, EBPP streamlines the entire patient billing journey from statement generation to payment posting by moving every step into a secure and fully digital workflow. The process begins the moment your practice generates a patient balance within your practice management system and continues through digital reminder with a link to the payment portal, online payment, and automatic posting back into the billing system. This digital workflow eliminates the extra steps and delays of paper billing, establishing a simple, predictable process for staff and patients.
What Challenges Are Eliminated?
Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) addresses several issues that slow down or complicate traditional billing:
- Paper delays caused by delivery timelines
- Repetitive follow-up phone calls that take staff away from higher-value tasks
- Manual data entry that increases the risk of errors
- Limited patient access to statements that can only be reviewed during office hours
By switching to digital delivery and online payment, practices spend less time chasing down payments and correcting mistakes.
Why Is This Process More Reliable and Efficient Than Mailed Statements?
Digital reminders sent by text or email give patients instant access to view and pay their statements through a secure online portal—significantly shortening the time between billing and payment. With convenient digital access, patients can review and settle their balance as soon as they receive the notification. Automated posting also reduces the errors commonly caused by manual entry. Altogether, Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) delivers a faster, clearer, and more consistent billing experience. It minimizes human effort, removes unnecessary steps, and creates a predictable, reliable payment process for both staff and patients.
Why Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) Matters More Than Ever in Healthcare
The shift toward digital billing is not a trend. It is a real response to major changes in the healthcare financial landscape that are affecting patients and practices. Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) has become key, providing clarity, efficiency, and speed at a time when practices need all of it.
High Out-of-Pocket Costs Increase the Need for Clear Billing
Patients today enroll in high-deductible health plans, meaning they must cover a larger share of their medical bills. As patient balances grow, patients need clearer, more accessible billing information to understand what they owe and why. EBPP delivers bills in a clear, readable format that patients can reference easily, reducing confusion and increasing their confidence in making payments.
Patients Want Access Anytime and Anywhere
Patients expect to manage their healthcare finances the same way they manage their banking or shopping. They want to receive notifications on their phone and pay online from any device at any time. A digital billing experience aligns with the way people already live and communicate.
Staff Shortages Make Manual Processes Unsustainable
Many practices are operating with smaller staff due to ongoing staffing shortages. Manual billing activities such as printing statements, answering billing questions by phone, and entering paper checks consume valuable time practices can no longer spare. EBPP automates these tasks and supports staff by reducing repetitive work.
Payment Speed Directly Affects Monthly Cash Flow
Slow billing cycles lead to delayed payments, which can strain a practice's ability to manage expenses. Digital delivery and immediate access to online payment options shorten the time between sending a bill and receiving payment. Faster payments strengthen cash flow and reduce the number of aging accounts.
Modern Billing Improves Efficiency and Enhances the Patient Experience
Digital billing reduces administrative effort, eliminates avoidable delays, and creates a smoother financial experience for patients. EBPP streamlines the process, making it clearer, faster, and more convenient. As healthcare continues to move toward consumer-focused services, modernizing billing is an important way to maintain trust and improve overall satisfaction.
Benefits of Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) for Healthcare Practices
Implementing an Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) system strengthens a practice's financial performance and reduces the workload placed on administrative staff. By shifting billing to a digital workflow, practices gain accuracy, speed, and visibility across the entire patient payment process.
Faster Payment Turnaround Through Instant Delivery
Digital reminders reach patients immediately through text or email. Since patients receive their bills the same day they are generated, many make immediate online payments, shortening the billing cycle and speeding up revenue collection.
Lower Administrative Burden With Fewer Manual Tasks
Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) also reduces the time staff spend printing, folding, stuffing, and mailing paper statements. With a few clicks, a practice can send large batches of digital bills through text or email. This frees staff to focus on higher-value responsibilities, including insurance follow-up and patient support.
Improved Accuracy and Fewer Manual Entry Errors
Because the online system routes payments directly, it greatly reduces the need for manual posting. Automated posting improves accuracy, produces cleaner accounting reports, and minimizes corrections and disputes caused by human error.
Reduced A/R Days and More Stable Cash Flow
The combination of faster statement delivery, easier payment options, and automated posting helps practices collect patient balances sooner. As more payments come in quickly and consistently, practices see fewer aging accounts and more predictable cash flow each month.
Better Tracking With Digital Delivery Confirmations
EBPP also provides clear confirmation that a statement was sent and received. This visibility removes guesswork and helps staff understand patient engagement with their bill.
Cost Savings With a Balanced Paper and Digital Strategy
Sending digital statements reduces expenses related to printing, postage, paper supplies, and labor. Paper statements, however, remain important for patients who prefer them. A modern Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) system supports both needs by adding QR codes to mailed statements. The QR code links directly to the online payment portal, giving paper-preferred patients an easy path to secure digital payment.
EBPP provides practices with a more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective billing process while supporting each patient’s payment preferences.
Benefits of Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) for Patients
A digital billing experience makes the payment process easier and more intuitive for healthcare consumers. EBPP meets people where they already are by delivering bills through the tools they use every day and providing simple, modern ways to pay.
Bills Delivered Through Familiar Channels
Patients regularly use their phones and computers, so receiving digital reminders feels natural and convenient. With a single click from a text or email, they can access the online payment portal instantly—putting important information right in front of them instead of relying solely on postal mail.
Quick Attention Through Text and Email Notifications
Patients usually notice text and email notifications immediately. These notifications keep upcoming balances top of mind and reduce the chances of forgetting about a bill.
Instant Ability to View and Pay From Any Device
With EBPP, patients can open their bill and pay instantly from a phone, tablet, or computer. There is no need to write checks, log into a complicated portal, or wait until business hours to ask for help.
Clear Presentation of Charges
Digital statements present charges in a clean layout that is easier to understand than many paper statements. This reduces confusion, prevents unnecessary phone calls, and helps patients know exactly what they owe.
No Risk of Lost or Delayed Mail
Paper statements can be misplaced, delivered to the wrong address, or arrive late. Digital delivery eliminates these risks and ensures patients receive their bills on time.
A Smoother and More Modern Financial Experience
EBPP creates a streamlined payment process that feels current and user-friendly. The experience is familiar because it mirrors the way most people already pay for services online.
Aligned With Everyday Online Shopping and Payment Habits
Patients are accustomed to digital checkout experiences. Paying a medical bill through a secure online link feels similar to paying for other products and services, which increases comfort and confidence in the process.
For patients, Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) makes patient billing clearer, faster, and more convenient, which improves overall satisfaction with the patient financial side of healthcare.
EBPP in Action: How BillFlash Enhances the Digital Billing Experience
BillFlash makes digital billing effortless for practices and patients. These tools help improve delivery speed, reduce administrative work, and offer patients a convenient payment experience aligned with how they already use their devices. Here is how BillFlash combines multiple tools to optimize the digital billing experience:
- PreBill lets you send pre-visit billing links via text or email so patients can review and pay their pre-visit charges on PayWoot.com. This approach benefits in-person and telehealth appointments, helping practices collect payments upfront, improve cash flow, and reduce the effort required to collect outstanding balances.
- eBill Notices instantly deliver digital notifications to patients via text and email, alerting them that their bill is ready for viewing and settlement. Each message contains a secure link for fast, mobile-friendly online payment at PayWoot.com, with no account creation required.
- PayReminders automates the follow-up process, sending up to three text and/or email reminders per month at set intervals such as 7, 14, and 21 days after issuing the first statement. This keeps bills visible to patients and reduces the need for manual follow-up calls from your front office. Once payment is received, patients are removed from the PayReminder cadence.
- Mailed Bills with QR Codes cater to patients who prefer paper and digital payments. These statements include a QR code that patients can scan with their phone to pay online instantly, providing a convenient digital option even with a traditional bill.
The integration of digital notices, automated reminders, pre-visit billing, and QR-equipped mailed statements leads to faster payments and a lighter administrative workload. These tools also improve communication and create a more convenient financial experience for patients, which supports higher satisfaction and stronger payment performance.
How Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) Supports a Stronger Revenue Cycle
A stronger revenue cycle begins with reducing the amount of manual work staff must complete each day. EBPP automates key billing steps, reducing the risk of errors and allowing staff to focus on more challenging work. As routine tasks become more efficient, the billing process moves forward with fewer delays. These improvements also influence payment speed. When digital reminders are delivered instantly and patients can view and pay online, more payments arrive on time. This creates steadier cash flow throughout the year, especially during busy seasons when practices depend on predictable revenue.
Digital delivery also eliminates the delays associated with mailed statements. Instead of waiting for paper to reach a patient, EBPP ensures that bills are received and reviewed quickly. This shortens the overall collection cycle and keeps payments from aging longer than necessary. EBPP also strengthens the revenue cycle through better visibility. Digital records make reconciliation and reporting simpler because all activity is tracked in a single system. This level of clarity helps practices understand their financial performance and plan more effectively.
Together, these benefits support a more stable, stronger revenue cycle while contributing to long-term financial strength.
What to Look for When Choosing an EBPP Solution
Not all Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) platforms are created equal. When evaluating your options, look for a solution with these must-have features:
- Secure Digital Delivery: The ability to send digital reminders via text and email so patients can view and pay their bills online.
- Mobile-Optimal Bill Presentation: A clear, easy-to-read format that looks great on any device, especially smartphones
- Intuitive Online Payment Experience: A straightforward payment flow that does not require account creation, app downloads, or complicated logins
- Automated Reminders: Tools to reduce the manual follow-up workload for your staff
- EHR Integration: A platform that connects directly with your EHR or practice management system to keep data accurate and consistent
- Transparent Reporting: Access to reports and performance analytics that help you track engagement and measure financial results
BillFlash delivers all these capabilities in a single integrated system, giving practices a complete digital billing and payment solution from statement delivery to payment collection.
EBPP Is the Next Step Toward Smarter, Faster Billing
Shifting to digital billing is a major step toward building a more resilient and patient-centric practice. Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) improves payment speed, lowers administrative burden, and delivers the modern financial experience today’s patients expect. Practices that embrace digital billing now are positioning themselves for greater efficiency and long-term success in a competitive healthcare market.
Ready to improve your billing workflows, accelerate payments, and create a better experience for your patients? Schedule a demo with BillFlash to explore how our integrated billing, payment, and collection software can strengthen your practice’s payment process.