Billing and communication messages: Setup and defaults
Set up customized communication messages and billing messages for estimates, invoices, statements, and emails from Cornerstone.
Before you start
Security
- Billing Messages
- Billing Messages Setup
- Communication Messages
- Communication Messages Setup
- Defaults – Practice
Billing messages
Create and assign billing messages for the footer on your estimates, invoices, and statements. The invoice and estimate message templates can be updated at the time of use.
Set up billing messages
Navigate to Controls > Billing messages.
- Click New or Update.
- Enter or modify a billing message description and message.
- Click OK.
Assign billing message defaults
Navigate to Controls > Defaults > Practice and Workstation > Messages.
- In the Billing messages area, select the message that should be displayed by default for the following:
- Invoice
- Estimate footer
- Current
- 30 days,
- 60 days
- 90 days
- Click Apply to save your changes and continue setting defaults, or click OK to save your changes and close the window.
Communication messages
Create email messages and assign subjects and messages when sending email or fax communications. The text of the default message can be changed at the time of use.
Set up communication messages
Navigate to Controls > Communication Messages.
- Click New or Update.
- Enter or modify a communication message Description and Message.
- Click OK.
Assign communication message defaults
Navigate to Controls > Defaults > Practice and Workstation > Messages.
- In the Communication messages area, select the message that should be displayed by default for the following:
- Invoice
- Estimate
- Patient History
- Purchase Order
- Medical Note/Correspondence
- Click Apply to save your changes and continue setting defaults, or click OK to save your changes and close the window.
Additional information
Message Defaults and Setup
- Set up a billing message named Blank without an entered message to use as needed for a customized message on specific invoices and estimates.
- Messages set as the Current, 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days default message print on the statement according to the client’s account status.
Example: If the client is 60 days past due, the 60 days message will display on the printed statement. - Change your billing messages periodically to work with your marketing plan.
Example: holiday messages, pet summer safety, etc.
Message Use
- Message length info to avoid truncation:
- Invoice messages should not exceed 600 characters/spaces, a maximum of 5 lines.
- Estimate and statement messages should not exceed 350 characters/spaces, a maximum of 3 lines.
- Suggested parameters are based on typical use of wider characters (w, m)
- Use Microsoft Word or a similar app to create your message and perform a character and line count.
- Billing and communication messages can be deleted by selecting the message on the message list and clicking Delete.
- If the message is linked to message defaults, you must change the default message selection as indicated in the alert window.
- Use Ctrl + Enter to start a new line when entering a billing message or communication message.
Related reports
- Initial Practice Setup Report by Billing Messages
