From which source does a self-pay RMO typically post payments automatically via a flat file?

• A. Bank
• B. Payer system
• C. Clearinghouse
• D. Data warehouse

Answer: (A)

Auto-posting self-pay payments via a flat file comes from the bank’s processing feed (lockbox/ACH). Banks handle daily cash receipts from patients and generate a standardized file that lists each payment with identifiers that let the RMO apply the payment to the correct patient account. The RMO then reads that file and automatically posts the payments, updates holds or balances, and helps reconcile cash. This bank-led flow is what enables automatic posting for self-pay, whereas payer systems handle insurer remittances, clearinghouses typically handle broader transaction processing, and data warehouses are for storage and reporting rather than live posting feeds.