> ## 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.

# Clearing Out a Payment

> Learn how to clear out an erroneous or duplicate payment in Elation Billing.

## Overview

### Removing an erroneous or duplicate payment

Deleting a payment is not supported in Elation Billing. To remove an erroneous or duplicate payment from your active books, you can clear it out using the workflow below. The payment record is retained for audit purposes but no longer affects claim balances or financial totals.

### When to use this workflow

Use this workflow when a payment was posted in error or is a true duplicate that should not affect any claim. If the payment was voided, reversed, or updated by the payer (for example, a recoupment or corrected ERA), use [Posting Voided, Reversed, or Updated Payments](/articles/posting-voided-reversed-or-updated-payments) instead.

### Prerequisites

* A [user role ](https://help.elationhealth.com/articles/user-roles)with permission to edit payments and remove Superbills from a Payment.
* The **Payment ID**, **Check #**, or **Payer** name so you can locate the payment.
* Confirmation that the payment is safe to clear (not partially reconciled to claims you intend to keep).

## Workflow instructions

### Locating the payment

1. Navigate to **Payments** → **Payments**.
2. Search by check number, payer, payment date, or Payment ID.
3. Open the payment you want to remove by clicking on the Payment ID.

### Clearing out a payment

<Steps>
  <Step title="Remove all Superbills">
    If there are any Superbills on the Payment, delete them by clicking the **trashcan** icon.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/CWM1OVXHaDp9DnEy/images/intercom/2beb59684e03_delete_claim_from_payment.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=CWM1OVXHaDp9DnEy&q=85&s=63c45c98877b5e52cc62c7648dec5558" alt="On the Payment, in the Superbill's info ribbon, click the Trashcan to the left of the Detail button" width="1125" height="137" data-path="images/intercom/2beb59684e03_delete_claim_from_payment.png" />
    </Frame>

    * Removing a Superbill from the Payment unlinks it; the claim itself is not deleted and returns to its prior balance status. Re-attach the Superbill to the correct Payment if the original posting was simply applied to the wrong check.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit the payment details">
    1. Click **Edit** button at the top of the payment.
           <Frame>
             <img src="https://mintcdn.com/elationhealth/CWM1OVXHaDp9DnEy/images/intercom/565fda295abe_edit_the_payment.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=CWM1OVXHaDp9DnEy&q=85&s=95c07461c337152abd4af5d0a186bab8" alt="In the Payment Info ribbon, click the Edit button" width="1170" height="115" data-path="images/intercom/565fda295abe_edit_the_payment.png" />
           </Frame>
    2. Set the **Payment Amount** to \$0.
    3. Change the Check/Reference # to the word 'Duplicate'\*\* \*\*(if 'Duplicate' has already been used for this payer, append a unique suffix such as **Duplicate-2** or the original check number, for example **Duplicate-12345**).
    4. Leave the **Payment Date**, **Payer**, and **Payment Method** as originally entered so the historical record is preserved.
    5. Click **Save**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Leave a Payment Note">
    1. Click on the **Payment Notes** icon.
    2. Document why the payment was cleared (e.g., "Duplicate of check #12345 posted on 01/02/2026").
    3. If Superbills were removed, add a **Claim Note** on each affected claim as well. This is the only audit trail for the change.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify the payment is cleared">
    Reopen the Payment and confirm:

    * The **Payment Amount** displays as \$0.00.
    * The **Check/Reference #** reads 'Duplicate' (or your unique variant).
    * No Superbills are attached.
    * Your **Payment Note** is saved.
  </Step>
</Steps>

#### Can't edit the Payment?

If your Elation EHR + Billing practice has the Patient Payment Workflow Update active, you may find you cannot edit the Payment Amount. In that case, refer to the guide on [Activating Legacy Payment Workflow](/articles/activating-legacy-payment-workflow) to temporarily deactivate the feature for the purpose of removing a erroneous or duplicate payment.

## Special cases

### ERA-linked or auto-posted payments

If the payment was created from an ERA, clearing it does not remove the ERA file from your system. Remove the Superbills from the payment first, then edit the **Payment Amount** to \$0 as described above. The ERA remains available for reference and re-posting if needed.

### Partially applied or reconciled payments

If any portion of the payment has already been correctly applied to a claim you want to keep, do not clear the entire payment. Instead:

* Remove only the Superbills that should not have been on the Payment, or
* Use the [Posting Voided, Reversed, or Updated Payments](/articles/posting-voided-reversed-or-updated-payments) workflow to adjust specific line items using the **Ignored** field.

### Identifying cleared payments later

To find previously cleared payments, search the Payments list for the **Check #** 'Duplicate' (or your unique variant). Cleared payments appear with a \$0.00 amount and no attached Superbills.

## Impact on reports and patient statements

* **Financial reports** - Cleared payments display as \$0.00 entries and do not contribute to deposit or revenue totals. The original **Payment ID** is retained.
* **Patient statements** - Because no Superbills are attached, a cleared payment does not appear on patient-facing statements or balances.

## Related articles

* [Posting Voided, Reversed, or Updated Payments](/articles/posting-voided-reversed-or-updated-payments)
* [Activating Legacy Payment Workflow](/articles/activating-legacy-payment-workflow)
* [Posting a Payment in Elation Billing](/articles/posting-a-payment-in-elation-billing)
* [Negative Balances](/articles/negative-balances)
* [Elation Billing FAQs](/articles/elation-billing-faqs)