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Automated Invoicing and Charges for Late Cancellation Appointments

Abdullah Khan avatar
Written by Abdullah Khan
Updated over 3 weeks ago

Release Date: 5th December 2025 (For Non SP Clients) & 9th January 2026 (for SP- Clients)
​Version: 1.3
​Status: Live in Production under Ruh Care Inc. and Ruh Corp. Suborgs


🎯 Executive Summary

We've implemented automated invoice generation and payment processing for late cancellations across all client types. This feature automatically generates invoices when appointments are cancelled late, with intelligent handling based on client payment type (Self-Pay, Headway, or SP-tagged clients). The system streamlines the billing process while maintaining necessary manual control for insurance-based clients requiring special handling.


✨ What's New

Automatic Invoice Generation

The platform now automatically generates invoices for late cancellations:

  • πŸ“„ Auto-Generated Invoices - Created instantly when a late cancellation is detected

  • πŸ’³ Smart Payment Processing - Automated or manual based on client type

  • πŸ“§ Email Notifications - Sent to clients when payment is required (conditions apply)

  • 🏷️ Tag-Based Logic - Different workflows based on SP-tag presence

Intelligent Payment Processing

Payment handling varies based on client classification:

  • βœ… Non-SP Clients - Automatic card charging for self-pay and Headway clients

  • βœ… SP-Tagged Clients - Invoice generated but requires manual processing

  • βœ… No Card on File - Automatic email notifications for payment collection

  • βœ… Manual Override - Ability to edit invoice write-off and manually charge cards


πŸ”§ How It Works

Trigger Mechanism

The system is triggered by Late Cancellation Events:

  • When: A client cancels an appointment and the session status is marked as "Late Cancellation".

  • Action: Invoice generation begins immediately

Timing: Invoices are generated in real-time when late cancellation is detected.


πŸ“‹ Client Type Workflows

Workflow 1: Non-SP Clients (Self-Pay & Headway)

Applies to: Clients without the "SP -" tag prefix

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Late Cancellation Detected

    • Appointment status is marked as Late Cancellation

  2. Invoice Auto-Generated

    • System creates invoice for late cancellation fee

    • Invoice description/note: "Late Cancellation Fee" note is added to the invoice for CCT reference

    • Amount: Based on providers session charges

  3. Payment Processing:

    Scenario A: Card on File

    • βœ… Card is automatically charged

    • βœ… Client receives payment confirmation email

    • βœ… Invoice marked as paid and superbill is sent to the client

    • βœ… No manual intervention required

    Scenario B: No Card on File

    • ⚠️ Card cannot be charged automatically

    • πŸ“§ Client receives email notification to clear dues

    • πŸ“„ Invoice remains in "Unpaid" status

    • πŸ”” Client prompted to pay the unpaid invoice and clear pending dues on UI


Workflow 2: SP-Tagged Clients (Insurance-Based)

Applies to: Clients with "SP -" tag prefix (e.g., "SP - AJIC", "SP - Direct Billing")

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Late Cancellation Detected

    • Client with SP-tag cancels appointment and the session is marked as Late Cancellation

  2. Invoice Auto-Generated

    • System creates invoice for late cancellation fee

    • Invoice created in "Unpaid" status

  3. Manual Processing Required:

    ⚠️ No Automatic Actions:

    • ❌ Card is NOT automatically charged

    • ❌ Client does NOT receive payment due email

    • ⏸️ Invoice remains pending manual review by CCT to perform write-offs

  4. Admin Actions Required:

    Step A: Review Invoice

    • Navigate to client's invoice in billing dashboard

    • Verify late cancellation fee is correct and apply write-offs if any for Special programs

    Step B: Edit Invoice Write-Off (If Applicable)

    • Click "Edit Invoice"

    • Adjust write-off amount if needed

    • Save changes

    Step C: Manually Charge Card

    • Click "Charge Card" button

    • Confirm payment details

    • Process manual charge

    • Invoice status updated to "Paid"


🏷️ Tag Detection Logic

SP-Tag Identification

The system checks client tags to determine payment workflow:

Tag Format

Example

Workflow Applied

Has "SP -" prefix

SP - AJIC

Workflow 2 (Manual Processing)

Has "SP -" prefix

SP - Direct Billing

Workflow 2 (Manual Processing)

No "SP -" prefix

Self-Pay

Workflow 1 (Auto-Charge)

No "SP -" prefix

Headway

Workflow 1 (Auto-Charge)

No tag

(empty)

Workflow 1 (Auto-Charge)

Tag Matching Rules

  • Prefix matching only: "SP -" must appear at the start of the tag

  • Multiple tags: If client has any SP-tag, Workflow 2 (Manual Charge) applies


πŸ’° Invoice Details

Invoice Line Items

Field

Description

Example

Description

Service description

Late cancellation fee for appointment on Jan 09, 2026, 10:30 PM EST

Amount

Cancellation fee

$50.00

Total

Total amount due

$50.00

Invoice Status States

Status

Meaning

Next Steps

Unpaid

Invoice generated, payment pending

Automatic charge (Workflow 1) or Manual processing (Workflow 2)

Payment Failed

Payment failed because of insufficient funds or card expiry

Follow-up for Payment by CCT

Paid

Payment successful

No action required

Written Off

Admin manually wrote off balance

No action required


⚠️ Edge Cases & Special Handling

Multiple Late Cancellations

Scenario: Client has multiple late cancellations in a short period

Action:

  • Separate invoice generated for each late cancellation

  • Each invoice processed independently

  • Multiple invoices can be bundled for payment if needed


Card Declined (Non-SP Clients)

Scenario: Automatic charge fails due to declined card

Action:

  • Invoice status remains "Unpaid"

  • Client receives email notification


SP-Client Transitions

Scenario: Client changes from SP-tagged to non-SP (or vice versa)

Action:

  • System checks tags at time of late cancellation status

  • Workflow applied based on current tag status

  • Historical invoices unaffected by tag changes


Same-Day Tag Changes

Scenario: Admin adds/removes SP-tag on same day as late cancellation

Action:

  • Tag status checked when invoice is generated

  • If SP-tag present at generation time β†’ Workflow 2

  • If no SP-tag at generation time β†’ Workflow 1

  • Changes after invoice generation don't affect workflow


🎁 Benefits to Team

For Therapists

  • πŸ’° Revenue Protection: Automatic billing for late cancellations

  • πŸ“‹ Clear Policies: Consistent enforcement of cancellation rules

  • πŸ”” Notifications: Automatic client communication

For Billing Team

  • ⚑ Efficiency: Reduced manual invoice creation

  • πŸ’³ Automated Collection: Automatic payment processing for eligible clients

  • πŸ“Š Better Tracking: Centralized late cancellation billing

  • 🎯 Targeted Review: Manual review only for SP-tagged clients

For Clients

  • πŸ“§ Transparency: Clear notification of charges

  • πŸ’³ Convenience: Automatic payment (when applicable)

  • πŸ“„ Documentation: Clear invoice records

For Compliance

  • πŸ“‹ Policy Enforcement: Consistent application of cancellation policies

  • πŸ” Audit Trail: Complete record of all late cancellation charges

  • βœ… Documentation: Automated invoice generation for all cases

  • πŸ₯ Insurance Handling: Appropriate manual review for SP-clients


πŸ” Implementation Details

Data Flow: Non-SP Clients (Workflow 1)

  1. Late cancellation event triggered

  2. System checks client tags

  3. No "SP -" tag found β†’ Workflow 1. (Auto-charge)

  4. Invoice auto-generated with late cancellation fee

  5. System checks for card on file

  6. IF card exists:

    • Attempt automatic charge

    • If successful β†’ Send confirmation email, mark invoice "Paid"

    • If declined β†’ Send payment request email, keep invoice "Unpaid"

  7. IF no card:

    • Send "Clear Dues" email with payment link

    • Invoice remains "Unpaid" until payment received

Data Flow: SP-Tagged Clients (Workflow 2)

  1. Late cancellation event triggered

  2. System checks client tags

  3. "SP -" tag found β†’ Workflow 2

  4. Invoice auto-generated with late cancellation fee

  5. Invoice status set to "Unpaid"

  6. NO automatic actions:

    • No card charging attempted

    • No email notifications sent

  7. Invoice appears in admin dashboard for manual review

  8. Admin reviews, adjusts write-off if needed, and manually charges card


πŸ› οΈ CCT Workflows

Daily Tasks for CCT Team

  1. Review SP-Client Invoices

    • Check dashboard for new late cancellation invoices with SP-tags

    • Review each invoice for accuracy

    • Process write-offs if covered by insurance no-show policies

    • Manually charge cards for client-responsible amounts

  2. Monitor Failed Payments

    • Review declined automatic charges

    • Follow up with clients for payment method updates

    • Retry failed payments after card updates

  3. Track Outstanding Balances

    • Monitor unpaid invoices aging report

    • Send follow-up emails for overdue balances

    • Escalate to collections if necessary


πŸ“ž Support & Questions

Common CCT Questions

Q: What if a client disputes the late cancellation charge?
A: Admin can edit the invoice and adjust the write-off amount to $0 the charge, or issue a refund if already paid.

Q: Can we customize the late cancellation fee per therapist?
A: Yes, cancellation fees can be configured based on their session charges and session types.

Q: What happens if we add an SP-tag after the invoice is generated?
A: The invoice workflow is determined at generation time. Changing tags afterward doesn't affect existing invoices.

Q: Can we manually trigger invoice generation for older late cancellations?
A: Yes, CCT can manually create invoices for any appointment through the billing dashboard, like we used to do earlier.

Q: How do we know which invoices need manual processing?
A: Clients with SP - tag on their profile need manual charge and processing.


For questions about this feature or to report issues, please contact:


Last Updated: January 2026

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