Rectangle Health Payment Processing Alternatives

Rectangle Health’s payment processing systems have been down for 10 days and counting, with no resolution in sight. Their system status page hasn’t been updated in days, either.

And while we almost never recommend switching payment processors, this is unacceptable. So if you’re thinking of leaving Rectangle Health for another processor, I honestly don’t blame you. 

Before You Switch From Rectangle Health Payment Processing

A few important things to keep in mind while you’re evaluating options:

• Don’t cancel your Rectangle Health account just yet.
• Rectangle failed to meet the SLA in your contract, and they owe you credits (at least 30%).
• Terminating your account now may forfeit the money you’re owed. 
• Consider using this outage to your advantage by negotiating better terms.
• Rectangle does not want to lose your account, and this gives you tons of leverage.

By all means, shop around for another provider, and switch if you think that’s the best decision for your business. 

But if you’re considering giving Rectangle another chance, I urge you to read my guide about how Rectangle’s outage gives you unprecedented negotiating leverage. This short-term headache could lead to massive savings over the long run if you play your cards right. 

Don’t Fall for Simplicity Traps

The inability to accept payments for 10+ days is brutal. So you understandably want a provider that can get you set up immediately.

But rushing into a relationship with a new processor out of desperation can be a costly mistake.

• Avoid PayFacs and aggregate accounts that offer same-day or next-day setups.
• You’re better off going through a true underwriting process directly with a processor to secure the best rates.
• Stay away from flat-rate processors that offer “simple” pricing.
• Negotiate IC+ terms where you pay the wholesale interchange rates plus a small markup to the processor. 

In short, just be thorough. 

Any new processor you’re reaching out to is going to be licking their chops to get your business because they know you’re in a rough situation. So they likely won’t offer their most competitive rates from day one.

The vultures are out right now. I see them commenting all over social media pages, responding to frustrated Rectangle customers offering a resolution. 

Taking the first offer on the table is obviously going to be easier for you in terms of getting paid faster during this outage. But trust me, rushing here can literally cost you tens of thousands of dollars (if not more) over the next 12 months.

Top 5 Rectangle Payment Processing Alternatives to Consider

Below are the best Rectangle Health alternatives for payment processing. Each is a bit different, and the best option for you depends on your priorities and business needs.

I also want to make it clear that we have ZERO affiliation with any of the processors below. We are NOT compensated in any way if you visit their websites, sign up, or switch. This list is purely based on my personal opinion and designed to help you out.

1. NMI Virtual Terminal — Short-Term Workaround While Rectangle is Down

NMI’s gateway processes $440+ billion annually for over one million merchants. They have excellent technology, and they’re a reputable provider.

Right now, NMI’s virtual terminal is being offered as a workaround for Rectangle Health users.

While not as convenient as a fully integrated processing solution with your practice management system, it’s a short-term band-aid that will allow you to get paid while Rectangle’s payment bridge is offline. 

It’s a web-based terminal where you can manually enter the payment details for your customers and patients. At a minimum, you can start using it right now to at least attempt to recover the backlog of payments you missed over the last week or two. 

I think this option is your best bet because it also puts you in a position to keep your Rectangle account active and recover the credits you’re owed. 

One problem is that so many Rectangle Health users are reporting they’re unable to access the NMI terminal based on the login credentials being emailed to them from Rectangle. But keep trying. Keep calling Rectangle, even if it means waiting on hold and continuing to be frustrated.

This is the best option if you want to get paid quickly without derailing your entire operations. 

2. Greyfinch — Good for Orthodontic Practices of All Sizes

If you’re an orthodontist looking to completely move away from Rectangle by ditching its processing and its practice management features, Greyfinch is a solid alternative. 

It’s 100% cloud-based, making it easy to set up and deploy using your current hardware.

And they offer solutions to help you migrate your data as well, which can be convenient if you’re switching from Rectangle. 

Another thing I like about Greyfinch is its versatility. It works just as well for single-practice orthodontists as it does for group practices, OSO/DSO, and startups.

Greyfinch uses Bluefin on the backend for payment processing. Rates aren’t the cheapest on the market, but it’s reasonable for the integrated setup. 

Just be forewarned that Greyfinch’s ACH payments are notably more expensive than market alternatives. You can check out my complete Greyfinch review for more details if you’re interested.

3. ModMed Pay — Medical-Specific Payment Processing for Specialty EHR

ModMed is an EHR solution for specialty healthcare practices like ENT, OBGYN, orthopedic, plastic surgery, podiatry, and more.

It comes with features to support client communication, clinical workflows, and of course, medical billing. 

In terms of payment processing, ModMed Pay operates as a PayFac and uses a flat-rate model, which I don’t like at all.

That said, we’ve successfully negotiated lower rates for healthcare practices using ModMed Pay, securing cheaper processing terms than advertised. 

So we can do the same for you if you’re considering this route. 

4. Weave — Versatile Payment Processing for All Types of Healthcare

Weave Payments is one of the more versatile Rectangle Health alternatives in the sense that it supports a wide variety of healthcare solutions.

It works for:

• Dental
• Medical
• Veterinary
• Optometry
• Primary Care Providers
• Medical Groups
• Dental Service Organizations (DSOs)
• Specialty Providers (plastic surgery, physical therapy, etc.)

The platform supports modern features like text-to-pay, automatic payment reminders, deposits, and more. You’ve also got plenty of other tools at your disposal to help make your practice run smoother.

Weave uses Stripe as its backend processor. The technology is solid here, but the setup can sometimes translate to slightly inflated rates. 

So just make sure you’re a tough negotiator during the onboarding. Despite what you see advertised online, Stripe does offer interchange-plus processing. So don’t think you’re forced to sign a flat-rate contract. 

5. Bluefin — Emphasizes Security for Healthcare Payments

Bluefin offers multiple ways for healthcare companies to get paid. They emphasize the security for payment patients, and offer several solutions to keep your data secure. 

Examples include:

• PCI P2PE as a service
• Tokenization as a service for PHI, PII, and payment data
• Omnichannel healthcare payment platform with encryption and tokenization

You have plenty of devices to choose from depending on how your practice is set up. And they also offer gateway solutions for online payments.

Technically, Bluefin is an ISO. So they don’t actually handle the processing in-house. 

They use Elavon as their backend processor, which is a solid and reputable solution (I’d be shocked if Elavon ever had an outage like what’s currently happening with Rectangle/BridgePay). 

Other Options to Consider

If none of the top five solutions above sound like they’re right for your situation, here are some other payment processing options for specific use cases. Some are standalone processors while others are software providers that support payment integrations.

For Dentists and Orthodontists

Here are some good alternatives to the dental/ortho providers that I covered above:

• OrthoFi — Stripe and Breeze are both supported as backend processors. Just make sure you get an interchange-plus deal, and avoid the flat-rate contracts. 
• Dolphin Practice Management — Imaging leader that integrates with Global Payments, Breeze, and Rectangle Health. It’s possible that the Rectangle API may offer a smoother transition in terms of data migration. But that’s something you’ll need to discuss with an IT professional.
• WaveOrtho — Integrates with Fiserv and TSYS for payment processing. Solid all-around practice management option. 
• OpenDental — Offers both on-premise and cloud deployments. It integrates with Edge Express (Global Payments), XCharge (OpenEdge/Global), Worldpay, and PayConnect (Wells Fargo/Fiserv).
• Ortho2 — Integrates with OpenEdge, Vanco, and Worldpay. Supports tons of other ortho-specific integrations as well. 

For Veterinarians

Rectangle isn’t known for its vet-specific features. But I do know plenty of veterinarians are using it. So if you want to switch completely, consider:

• Gingr Payments — Gingr’s in-house payment processing solution that’s powered by Stripe. Alternatively, you can use Gingr for vet practice management and integrate with CardConnect as your processor. 
• Vetspire Pay — This is Vetspire’s branded payment product, but it actually uses CardConnect as the backend processor. Worldpay, Stripe, and Square also integrate with Vetspire. 
• VETport — Cloud-based vet practice management solution that integrates with Elavon, Fiserv,  and OpenEdge.
• Avimark — Integrates with Global Payments, Stripe, and Worldpay. 

Non-Integrated, Standalone Processing

If you want to keep for practice management and just use a standalone processor that’s not integrated, you have literally hundreds of options at your disposal. You can also go this route if you migrate to another practice management system and remove your practice from Rectangle’s ecosystem altogether.

Here’s a short list to start your search:

• Braintree
• Adyen
• Elavon
• CardConnect
• Fiserv/Clover
• Clearent
• Shift4

All of these options offer interchange-plus pricing, and they’re less likely to rip you off compared to other processors on the markup (though it’s not a guarantee). 

Final Thoughts

This is the only time in my 9+ years at Merchant Cost Consulting that I’ve even remotely advocated for switching providers. 

But the current situation with Rectangle Health is something that just can’t be swept under the rug as “no big deal” anymore. 

So if you want to switch, I get it. Just don’t rush into a relationship with a new provider. 

The NMI virtual terminal is going to be the best option for most Rectangle users because you can use it ASAP without canceling your Rectangle agreement. And then you can parlay that into negotiating a better rate with Rectangle (trust me, they’re going to do whatever it takes to keep you).

At least keep them long enough to secure the credits you’ve rightfully earned for their SLA failures. If you do open up communications with another provider, you can even use that as additional leverage when you’re negotiating with Rectangle.

If you’re stuck and don’t know what makes sense for your specific scenario, contact our team here at MCC. As a merchant consultant, we don’t sell payment processing services, and we’re committed to advocating for your best interest regardless of what you decide.