> ## 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.

# Applying Patient Payments with ⚡️Apply Patient Payments

> Learn how to use the automated Apply Patient Payments tool in Elation Billing

This article explains how to use the automated ⚡️Apply Patient Payments tool to apply unapplied patient payments to outstanding balances.

## Overview

### What is ⚡️Apply Patient Payments?

The ⚡️Apply Patient Payments tool automatically applies unapplied patient payments to their outstanding balances. It intelligently matches payments to claims based on date of service and applies remainders to the oldest balances.

### Why use ⚡️Apply Patient Payments?

This automated tool saves time by eliminating the need to manually apply each patient payment. It ensures payments are correctly matched to claims and helps maintain accurate accounts receivable.

## Workflow Instructions

### Using ⚡️Apply Patient Payments

1. **Navigate** - Select the **Send Statements** page from the **Patient** drop-down menu.

<Note>
  You will NOT need to send statements to use the automated ⚡️Apply Patient Payments tool.
</Note>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/b_VQbpfEoUHjBEuz/images/intercom/c01b71950411_Screenshot_2023-08-01_at_2.35.36_PM.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=b_VQbpfEoUHjBEuz&q=85&s=0c0c226b55952acc684cc1656a9afbae" alt="in the Patients tool menu, Send Statements is the third menu option" width="225" height="322" data-path="images/intercom/c01b71950411_Screenshot_2023-08-01_at_2.35.36_PM.png" />

2. **Run the Tool** - Click the ⚡️Apply Patient Payments button.

   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/axN6V524bgYhtISH/images/intercom/13ecc78d3581_Screenshot_2023-07-31_at_1.05.19_PM.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=axN6V524bgYhtISH&q=85&s=086d45b191afbdb4a3da4987ac8e1cf1" alt="Image" width="1305" height="797" data-path="images/intercom/13ecc78d3581_Screenshot_2023-07-31_at_1.05.19_PM.png" />

   This will apply unapplied Patient Payments to their outstanding balances. If you have a large account with many patient payments and balances, this may take a couple of minutes.

### What ⚡️Apply Patient Payments Does

The tool performs the following actions in order:

1. **Find unapplied patient payments** - Identifies all payments that haven't been applied to claims

2. **Apply copays to matching DOS only** - Copays collected on a Superbill that has yet to be Settled will be reserved for use on that Superbill

3. **Match and apply other payments** - For all other unapplied payments, matches date of service and applies

4. **Apply remainder to oldest balances** - Any remaining payment amounts are applied to the oldest outstanding balances

## Related Articles

* [Sending Statements](/articles/sending-statements)
* [Posting a Payment in Elation Billing](/articles/posting-a-payment-in-elation-billing)