Laboratory Billing - hmislk/hmis GitHub Wiki

Laboratory Billing

Laboratory tests are ordered and billed through the HMIS billing module. A bill must be created before any sample collection, barcode generation, or result entry can take place. This article explains how to raise a lab bill from different entry points — OPD consultation, inpatient ward, or walk-in — and covers packages, additional charges such as home visit fees, and what happens after the bill is saved.

Billing from OPD (Outpatient)

  1. Go to Menu > Lab > Lab Bill or open the patient's OPD encounter.
  2. Search for the patient by name, registration number, or mobile number and select the correct record.
  3. In the Investigation search field, type a few letters of the test name and select from the dropdown. Repeat for each test required.
  4. Review the fee breakdown: the system shows the laboratory fee, reagent fee, and total for each item.
  5. Select the Payment Method (cash, card, or credit).
  6. Click Save Bill.

The system generates a bill number and a barcode. The bill status moves to Ordered and the sample collection workflow can begin.

Tip: If the patient has a credit agreement with the hospital or a company, select the appropriate credit account before saving. The bill is posted to that account and no immediate payment is required.

Billing from an Inpatient Ward

  1. Open the patient's Bed Head Ticket (BHT) or go to Menu > Inward > Lab Orders.
  2. Select the patient from the active inpatient list.
  3. Add investigations the same way as OPD billing.
  4. The bill is linked to the inpatient admission. Lab charges are consolidated into the final discharge bill.

Cashier Billing

For walk-in patients, the cashier can create a lab bill directly:

  1. Go to Menu > Lab > Cashier Billing.
  2. Search for or register the patient.
  3. Add investigations, select payment method, and save.

Ordering Investigation Packages

Packages group related tests at a combined price (for example, "Liver Profile" or "Full Blood Count + ESR + CRP").

  1. In the investigation search field, type the package name.
  2. Select the package — the system expands it into its component investigations automatically.
  3. Review the individual items. Remove any that are not required if the package allows partial ordering.
  4. Save the bill as normal.

See also Package Billing in Lab.

Adding Additional Charges (Home Visit, Urgency Fee, etc.)

Some orders carry additional service charges — for example, a home visit fee when a courier collects from the patient's home, or an urgent processing surcharge.

  1. After adding investigations, locate the Additional Services section on the billing screen.
  2. Click Add Service and select the applicable charge (e.g., Home Visit, Priority Processing).
  3. The charge appears as a separate line item and is included in the total.

Note: Additional service items must be set up by the lab administrator before they appear in this section. Contact your system administrator if a required charge is missing.

Collecting Centre Billing

If the bill is raised at a collecting centre, the system applies the collecting centre's fee schedule automatically. The lab receives its share and the centre retains its commission. See Collecting Centre Billing for full details.

After the Bill is Saved

  • A PatientInvestigation record is created for each test, with status Ordered.
  • A barcode number is printed on the bill receipt. This barcode drives the entire downstream workflow.
  • Billing staff or the phlebotomist can immediately proceed to generate barcode stickers for the sample containers.

Editing or Cancelling a Lab Bill

  • A bill can be edited (tests added or removed) before any sample has been collected.
  • Once sample collection has started, cancellation requires an authorised user with the appropriate privilege.
  • Cancelling a lab bill cancels all associated investigation orders. Any samples already collected should be discarded and the patient notified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add more tests to an existing bill? Yes, provided no sample has been collected yet. Open the bill, add the new investigation, and save.

What if the patient has a different price (foreigner, staff, etc.)? The system applies the correct fee schedule automatically based on the patient's registration details and the selected fee type.

Can the same test be ordered twice on one bill? The system warns you if a duplicate investigation is added. You can proceed if it is clinically justified.

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