The terms behind the shared case.

A patient's authorization directing their insurer or settlement to pay the provider directly rather than reimbursing the patient.

A lien acknowledged and signed by the patient's attorney, agreeing to protect and pay the provider's balance from the settlement.

Billing the patient for the difference between the provider's charge and what an insurer or settlement actually paid.

A signed promise from the patient's attorney that the provider will be paid out of the case settlement, used in place of (or alongside) a formal lien.

A letter from a law firm confirming it represents the injured patient in their personal injury claim.

Selling a medical receivable (lien) to a funding company for immediate cash, at a discount to its face value.

A negotiated decrease in the amount a provider accepts from a settlement, often made when the recovery can't cover every claim in full.

A legal claim that lets a healthcare provider get paid out of a personal injury settlement instead of at the time of treatment.

A lien executed by the patient themselves, authorizing the provider to be paid from their personal injury recovery.

The right of an insurer (such as a health plan) to be repaid from a settlement for medical costs it already covered.

The portion of an at-fault driver's auto policy that pays for injuries they cause to other people.

The date the injury or accident occurred — the anchor for treatment timelines, coverage, and the statute of limitations.

A formal letter from the patient's attorney to the insurer presenting the injuries, bills, and a requested settlement amount.

The point at which a patient's condition has stabilized and isn't expected to improve further with treatment.

Optional auto coverage that pays accident-related medical bills regardless of who was at fault, up to a set limit.

A legal area covering physical or psychological harm caused by another party's negligence — the foundation of lien-based medical care.

The maximum amount an insurance policy will pay for a covered claim — a hard ceiling on what's available to settle a case.

The legal deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit, measured from the date of loss and varying by state.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage that pays the injured party when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little.

A five-digit code from the Current Procedural Terminology set that identifies a specific medical service or procedure for billing.

A statement from an insurer showing what was billed, what was allowed, what was paid, and what the patient may owe.

A standardized diagnosis code that documents the patient's condition and supports the medical necessity of billed services.

An insurer's advance approval required before certain treatments or imaging will be covered — a common source of denials when skipped.

An itemized form listing the services, diagnosis codes, and charges from a patient visit, used to generate a claim or lien ledger.

The benchmark an insurer or court uses to judge whether a charge is in line with typical fees for the same service in the same area.

The total amount owed to a provider for services already delivered but not yet paid — including open PI liens.

A breakdown of outstanding balances grouped by how long they've been unpaid (0–30, 31–60, 61–90, 90+ days).

Recording every billable service a patient receives so nothing is lost before a claim or lien ledger is created.

An insurer's refusal to pay a submitted claim, often over missing documentation, coding errors, or lack of prior authorization.

The average number of days it takes to collect payment after a service is billed — a core measure of revenue cycle health.

The end-to-end process of capturing, billing, and collecting revenue for care — from patient intake through final payment.

Out-of-pocket expenses a law firm advances to pursue a case — filing fees, expert witnesses, records, and depositions — repaid from the settlement.

An attorney fee structured as a percentage of the recovery, paid only if the case results in a settlement or award.

The distribution of settlement funds — paying attorney fees, case costs, liens, and the client's net share from the recovery.

The amount the injured client actually keeps after attorney fees, case costs, and medical liens are paid from the settlement.

An agreed resolution of a personal injury claim in which the at-fault party (or insurer) pays a sum to close the case.