Patients often delay payments when faced with paper statements or mailed invoices. Phone collections sometimes work against the biller, as they frustrate patients. The result? Increased administrative burden, aging accounts receivable, and stressed staff. At the same time, patients want a convenient payment process: mobile-friendly and secure.
This is where a text to pay app changes the game. By sending secure payment links via SMS, clinics give patients an easy way to settle bills. Patients don’t need to download an app or log into a portal—they simply click, review, and pay.
But not all text-to-pay solutions are created equal. Consumer-grade payment apps lack HIPAA safeguards and don’t integrate with EMRs. Instead of helping, they create compliance risks and more work for staff.
In this guide, we’ll explain what a text to pay app is. We'll focus on the following:
By the end, you'll see why Curogram is considered the top text to pay app for eCW users. Read on to learn how you can simplify collections and reduce staff stress in your practice.
In our previous article, we delved into what text-to-pay is in our detailed eCW guide. To recap, a text to pay app is a digital payment solution that enables clinics to send secure payment links to patients via SMS. Patients receive a text after their appointment or when a balance is due, click the link, and pay instantly using a credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet. The transaction is processed securely and, for eCW users, posted directly into the EMR’s billing module. This workflow eliminates paper statements, reduces billing cycle times, and provides patients with an easy, mobile-first experience.
Traditional billing methods are slow, inconvenient, and inefficient. Paper statements can take days to reach patients and are often ignored. Phone calls from staff are disruptive, labor-intensive, and frequently unsuccessful. In contrast, a text to pay app ensures patients receive billing requests instantly and can pay from their phone in under a minute. Studies show that SMS has a 98% open rate, making it far more effective than email or mail for billing communication.
Any payment solution in healthcare must protect both PHI and payment card data. That means compliance with HIPAA for patient information and PCI DSS for financial transactions. The best text to pay apps healthcare providers use combine these standards, offering encrypted payment links, secure hosting, and BAAs. This ensures clinics avoid compliance risks while giving patients peace of mind that their information is safe.
Without automation, staff spend hours printing, mailing, and calling about patient balances. This manual process is both inefficient and demoralizing. For eCW users, a text to pay app integrated directly with billing eliminates manual entry and automates payment requests, freeing staff to focus on higher-value tasks.
One of the biggest benefits of secure text to pay platforms is the ability to automatically send payment reminders after visits or when balances are overdue. Instead of waiting weeks for mailed statements, patients receive a text within hours, making them more likely to pay quickly. Clinics using text payment software for clinics often report 30–40% faster collections.
Patients increasingly expect mobile-first solutions. A text to pay app provides a simple, one-click option that matches what they use for shopping, utilities, and banking. This convenience leads to higher satisfaction and loyalty, as patients see their provider as modern and patient-centered.
The top text to pay app for eCW users isn’t just about collecting money—it’s about embedding billing into the overall patient journey. Payments sync into eCW so that staff don’t have to reconcile separate systems. This integration streamlines revenue cycle management and ensures billing stays accurate and compliant.
Compliance is non-negotiable. The best text to pay apps healthcare practices adopt combine HIPAA standards for patient data with PCI DSS for cardholder data. This dual compliance ensures all transactions are encrypted, auditable, and legally secure.
For eCW users, integration is a must-have. The top text to pay app for eCW users integrates seamlessly with billing, patient records, and scheduling modules. This means payments are automatically logged, balances updated, and no duplicate work for staff. Integration also allows for payment-triggered workflows, such as reminders or financial reporting.
Automation reduces aging accounts receivable by sending reminders at set intervals. Instead of chasing balances manually, the system ensures patients receive polite, timely nudges to complete payments. This boosts collections while reducing staff stress.
Patient adoption depends on simplicity. The best apps don’t require downloads or logins. A secure SMS link opens directly in the patient’s browser, letting them pay in seconds. Mobile-friendly design ensures compatibility across devices, from iPhones to Androids.
Financial performance requires visibility. Text payment software for clinics should include dashboards that track collection rates, average days to payment, outstanding balances, and patient payment behavior. These insights help clinics refine strategies and improve revenue cycle performance.
One of the most common mistakes clinics make is relying on consumer-grade tools like Venmo, Zelle, or CashApp to collect payments. While these apps are convenient for personal use, they are not HIPAA or PCI compliant. They lack the necessary encryption, audit trails, and Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) that healthcare requires. More importantly, they cannot integrate with eClinicalWorks, leaving staff to manually reconcile payments—an error-prone process that consumes valuable time and creates compliance risks.
Some clinics adopt platforms that handle payments but cannot deliver secure SMS links. Without encrypted text messaging and audit tracking, clinics risk exposing both PHI and financial data. Secure text to pay platforms provide the assurance that billing communications are delivered safely, logged properly, and compliant with HIPAA and PCI requirements.
Even when a platform is HIPAA compliant, some clinics still underestimate the value of automation. Without automated payment reminders, follow-ups, and confirmations, staff are forced to spend hours chasing balances. This negates much of the efficiency gains that text payment software for clinics is supposed to deliver. Choosing a platform with built-in automation ensures that payment workflows continue seamlessly, reducing accounts receivable and freeing staff from repetitive tasks.
Curogram’s text to pay app meets the highest security and compliance standards, combining HIPAA and PCI DSS with SOC 2 controls. This ensures that both patient health information and payment card data are fully encrypted and auditable.
Unlike standalone tools, Curogram integrates directly with eClinicalWorks. Payments are automatically posted to the correct patient account, eliminating manual entry and reducing reconciliation errors. This tight integration streamlines revenue cycle management while improving staff efficiency.
Curogram automates the entire billing workflow. Patients receive secure payment requests and automated reminders until balances are paid. Confirmations are logged instantly, keeping billing records accurate. This automation helps clinics reduce overdue accounts and maintain steady cash flow without overburdening staff.
Clinics that implement Curogram report 30–40% faster collections, decreased staff workload, and higher patient satisfaction. Patients appreciate the convenience of mobile-friendly payments, while staff benefit from automation and integration that eliminate repetitive tasks.
Even the best text to pay app requires proper onboarding. Clinics should train front-desk staff, billers, and administrators on how automated billing flows work, how to monitor payment statuses, and how to troubleshoot patient issues. Training ensures that staff maximize efficiency and trust the system to handle tasks previously done manually.
Patients need to understand that text-to-pay links are both secure and convenient. Clinics should explain the benefits—faster payments, fewer statements, mobile access—while assuring patients that all transactions are HIPAA and PCI compliant. Clear communication helps overcome hesitation and builds confidence in using the service.
Successful implementation doesn’t stop after launch. Clinics should monitor collection rates, average days to payment, and reminder effectiveness. Using built-in reporting dashboards, administrators can identify patterns—such as which reminders drive the fastest payments—and adjust strategies accordingly. Continuous optimization ensures the clinic gets the full financial benefit of its text payment software.
Curogram was built specifically for healthcare providers who need secure, compliant, and integrated solutions. Unlike consumer-grade tools, it is HIPAA, PCI, and SOC 2 compliant, ensuring both patient privacy and payment security. Patients receive mobile-friendly, no-download payment links that make paying bills effortless. Staff save hours by automating billing workflows, reminders, and reporting.
For eClinicalWorks users, Curogram stands out because of its direct integration with eCW. Payments flow automatically into eCW’s billing system, eliminating duplicate entry and ensuring accuracy. Automated reminders reduce overdue balances, while real-time analytics provide visibility into collection performance. Clinics using Curogram have reported 30–40% faster collections, reduced staff workload, and happier patients.
As a secure text to pay platform, Curogram doesn’t just improve billing—it enhances the patient experience. By combining automation, compliance, and integration, it delivers a solution that works for both providers and patients. For clinics looking for the top text to pay app for eCW users, Curogram is the clear leader.
Patient billing doesn’t have to be a source of stress for staff or patients. A text to pay app simplifies the process, reduces delays, and improves collections. For eCW users, the top text to pay app for eCW users is one that integrates seamlessly with workflows. And other non-negotiables: the app must protect PHI and payment data.
Consumer apps are not built for healthcare and expose clinics to compliance risks. The best text to pay app is on that's HIPAA- and PCI-compliant, and mobile-friendly. Plus, the best app is often designed for integration. Features like reporting, secure messaging, and automation come with choosing the right partner.
Curogram combines all of these elements into one platform. With compliance, integration, and automation, it helps clinics achieve 30–40% faster collections. Looking for a better billing solution? Book a quick demo today.