> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.elationhealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Activate Online Payments

> Learn how to activate online payments using Stripe in Elation Billing

This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to activate online payments in Elation Billing using Stripe integration.

## Overview

### What is Activate Online Payments?

Activating online payments enables your practice to accept credit card payments from patients through Stripe integration. This allows for convenient payment collection via the Collect Now button and through the online patient payment portal at ElationPay.com.

### Why is Activating Online Payments important?

Online payments streamline the collection process, reduce manual payment handling, and provide patients with convenient payment options. Payments can be collected in person, via email statements, or through the online portal.

## Workflow Instructions

### Elation EHR + Billing Practices

<Note>
  If your practice is an Elation EHR + Billing user, you will activate Stripe through the EHR instead. This process takes about 10 minutes and you can skip Step 2 below. See [EHR Stripe Instructions](/articles/using-elation-to-securely-collect-patient-payments) for details.
</Note>

***

### Elation Billing Legacy Practices

#### Before You Start

Visit [Stripe.com](https://dashboard.stripe.com/register) and create and activate an account for your practice. We partner with Stripe to simplify payment processing.

1. **Navigate** - Click on the **Practice Settings** option under the **Settings** drop-down menu.

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/b_VQbpfEoUHjBEuz/images/intercom/a1df3a1cca8e_1_-_navigate.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=b_VQbpfEoUHjBEuz&q=85&s=8300e7d991b99e21c3b9b1b04eeea46b" alt="Settings menu expanded showing &#x22;Practice Settings&#x22; highlighted with a red box, above &#x22;Account Users&#x22; and &#x22;Billing&#x22; options." width="221" height="201" data-path="images/intercom/a1df3a1cca8e_1_-_navigate.png" />

   Click on the **ACTIVATE** button for online payments.

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/_WF8YQMpuRByusIR/images/intercom/e0c9bc33ef48_activate_banner.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=_WF8YQMpuRByusIR&q=85&s=ba2f3c30f3efd94e633789da1e4a1e26" alt="Online Payments settings card showing &#x22;NOT ACTIVE&#x22; status banner in red and an ACTIVATE button to begin Stripe integration." width="522" height="142" data-path="images/intercom/e0c9bc33ef48_activate_banner.png" />

2. **Get Your API Keys** - Log into Stripe.com and click on **Developers** in the upper right, then on **API Keys**.

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/b_VQbpfEoUHjBEuz/images/intercom/c25c216e376b_image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=b_VQbpfEoUHjBEuz&q=85&s=c22158f51384b27ba5c82ae76f7ca0c8" alt="Stripe dashboard top navigation with the Developers button highlighted, indicating where to click to access API keys" width="483" height="105" data-path="images/intercom/c25c216e376b_image.png" />

   You will find 2 keys: a **publishable** and **secret** LIVE key. You will need both to activate the integration.

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/b_VQbpfEoUHjBEuz/images/intercom/b835ee34194a_image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=b_VQbpfEoUHjBEuz&q=85&s=fd4dabb293da1ff21be9db909f5e5b9d" alt="Stripe Developer menu with &#x22;API Keys&#x22; option highlighted by a red arrow, under the Developers section sidebar." width="244" height="296" data-path="images/intercom/b835ee34194a_image.png" />

3. **Enter Your API Keys** - Enter your API Keys into the billing software and click **ACTIVATE NOW**. The billing software will verify the keys and activate online payment processing for your account.

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/_WF8YQMpuRByusIR/images/intercom/d532b99ae53b_activate_form.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=_WF8YQMpuRByusIR&q=85&s=b100711a554499d20441b2916e5bbfe9" alt="Activate Online Payments dialog with empty Publishable Stripe Key and Secret Stripe Key fields, and an &#x22;Activate Now&#x22; button to submit." width="361" height="344" data-path="images/intercom/d532b99ae53b_activate_form.png" />

4. **Use Online Payments** - Once activated:

   * When you click the **COLLECT NOW** button on a patient profile, you will have the choice of charging a credit card

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/axN6V524bgYhtISH/images/intercom/2617dfc65810_collect_now.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=axN6V524bgYhtISH&q=85&s=4255776b5a8b7c70ee56e06706a0ebe5" alt="Patient balance of $240.24 with the green &#x22;Collect Now&#x22; button and blue &#x22;Statements&#x22; button visible on the patient profile." width="364" height="96" data-path="images/intercom/2617dfc65810_collect_now.png" />

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/CWM1OVXHaDp9DnEy/images/intercom/5951d107ad28_charge_card.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=CWM1OVXHaDp9DnEy&q=85&s=27f0d875258514e0f5023b1a971ec4fe" alt="&#x22;Choose a Payment Type&#x22; dialog with &#x22;Already Paid&#x22; and &#x22;Charge Credit Card&#x22; buttons, appearing after clicking Collect Now on a patient profile." width="358" height="160" data-path="images/intercom/5951d107ad28_charge_card.png" />

   * Patient statements will reference the online payment portal at **ELATIONPAY.COM**
   * You can view payments processed in the billing software when you log into your Stripe account

<Note>
  At this time, patient refunds are processed directly in Stripe. See [Stripe refund instructions](https://support.stripe.com/questions/refund-a-customer) for details.
</Note>

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does Elation support other payment processors?

At this time, Stripe is the only payment processor directly integrated with Elation. Other processors, such as Clover, are not supported as a direct integration. If you choose to use a different processor, payments would need to be collected and processed outside of Elation and then recorded manually in the EHR.

## Related Articles

* [Sending Statements](/articles/sending-statements)
* [Posting a Payment in Elation Billing](/articles/posting-a-payment-in-elation-billing)
* [Using Elation to Securely Collect Patient Payments](/articles/using-elation-to-securely-collect-patient-payments)