MyDentalPractice Guides
ClinicHMO / Insurance

Linking patients to HMOs

Enrol a patient with a specific HMO — member ID, plan, effective dates.

Overview

Once an HMO is added as a provider, link individual patients to it. The link captures the patient's member ID and plan — the platform uses this to format claims and apply negotiated pricing.

Prerequisites

  • Owner, Admin, Billing Staff, or Receptionist role
  • HMO provider added (see Enrolling an HMO provider)
  • Patient's HMO card with member ID

Steps

Open the patient profile. Patients → click row.

Switch to "Insurance" tab on the profile (or open HMO → Enrollments → + New).

Click "+ Add HMO enrollment".

Pick the HMO provider. Dropdown of enabled providers.

Enter the member ID. Exact text from the patient's card.

Pick the plan. Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc. — depends on the provider's plan structure.

Set effective dates. Start date (when the cover began) and end date (annual renewal date).

Upload the HMO card. Photo of the front and back — used to verify if the provider audits.

Save. The link is active. Future invoices for this patient use this provider's negotiated rates.

Expected outcome

  • A new HMOEnrollment entry exists with patient, provider, member ID, plan, dates
  • The patient's profile shows the HMO badge
  • Invoices apply the negotiated fee schedule

Troubleshooting

SymptomLikely causeFix
Provider missing from dropdownProvider inactiveActivate in HMO → Providers
Member ID validation failsProvider format checkRe-enter exact text from card
Plan dropdown emptyProvider has no plans configuredConfigure plans on the provider
Patient has multiple HMOsMultiple enrollments OKMost clinics let one HMO bill at a time — pick at billing
End date passedAuto-flagged as expiredRenew enrollment with new dates

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