Yes. When you are collecting balances from individual patients for medical services, those are consumer accounts under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and CFPB Regulation F. We follow both. That means validation notices, dispute rights, permitted communication channels, and compliant follow-up throughout. We do not collect consumer debt in California, Oregon, or Washington.
Orthopedic Medicine Collections
Orthopedic Medicine Collections
Orthopedic practices carry a heavier billing burden than most. A single surgery generates multiple claims across the physician, facility, anesthesia, and physical therapy. Each one has its own authorization, its own denial risk, and its own copay or balance-due. By the time the dust settles, patients often owe more than they expected. Many do not pay. Southwest Recovery Services has worked with orthopedic physicians, surgical centers, and specialty practices for nearly 20 years. We know the billing complexity and the patient relationships that matter. Our job is to recover what you are owed without damaging either.

Delinquent Accounts Cost You More Than the Balance
The face value of an unpaid account is not the whole cost. Your billing staff spends hours on follow-up that goes nowhere. That time comes out of productive work. And while the account sits open, recovery gets harder. Collection rates fall sharply after 90 days. They fall further at 180. Most practices do not have a clean system for separating accounts that genuinely need outside help from ones still moving through normal cycles. We do. Once you refer an account to us, we take on the recovery workload entirely. You stop absorbing the carrying cost and start getting paid.
Consumer Collections That Follow the Law
Patient balances are consumer debt. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and CFPB Regulation F govern how those accounts can be worked. We follow both without exception. Our agents send required validation notices, honor every dispute right, and communicate only through permitted channels. We do not use pressure tactics, deceptive statements, or anything that puts your practice at legal risk. Patient information is handled with strict confidentiality consistent with HIPAA requirements. We never share protected health information beyond what is necessary to resolve an outstanding balance. Southwest Recovery Services does not collect consumer debt in California, Oregon, or Washington.

Your Reputation Is Part of What We Are Protecting
Orthopedic patients talk. Word gets around about how a practice handles billing disputes. A surgeon who sends past-due accounts to an aggressive collector ends up with fewer referrals. We understand that. Our approach is direct and professional, not combative. We make clear contact, explain what is owed and why, and work toward a resolution the patient can actually commit to. Payment plans, structured arrangements, honest conversation. We want the balance collected. We also want your patient to recommend you to the next person who tears an ACL or needs a shoulder repaired.
How We Approach Orthopedic Accounts
When you place an account with us, we verify contact information and open outreach through compliant channels. We document every attempt. We follow up on non-responsive accounts with consistent, measured contact, not volume calls designed to wear someone down. When a patient says they cannot pay the full balance at once, we work through structured arrangements that actually produce results. You get status reporting throughout. Your billing staff stops chasing accounts. They work what is current and leave the rest to us.
No Upfront Cost. We Collect or You Owe Nothing.
Southwest Recovery works on contingency. You pay no fee unless we recover the balance. Our percentage comes out of what we actually collect, so our incentive is identical to yours from day one. We do not bill for activity or effort. We get paid for results. If your orthopedic practice has a backlog of unpaid patient balances sitting beyond 90 days, those accounts are losing value every week. Call us at 866-558-3328 or reach out online to talk through what we can do with your outstanding files.
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Stop Absorbing Unpaid Balances
We work past-due patient accounts for orthopedic practices across most of the country. Contingency only. No upfront fee. Tell us about your outstanding balances and we will get started.


