Clinics searching for an AI answering service often land on two options: MedReceptionist (fully automated AI voice agent built for healthcare) and Klara (a patient-messaging platform in the ModMed family). This page lays out the factual differences so you can make the right call for your practice.
MedReceptionist is a purpose-built AI phone receptionist for medical, dental, chiropractic, PT, dermatology, med spa, and other healthcare practices. It answers calls in under 2 seconds, speaks in natural conversational voice, books appointments directly into EHRs via API, sends SMS confirmations, handles after-hours calls, and signs a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement with every practice. No human agents are involved — the AI handles calls end-to-end. The full platform — AI answering, EHR booking, texting, reviews, eligibility, and payments — is a flat $349/month ($249/month with a MedSiteAI website plan).
Klara is now ModMed Patient Engagement: two-way texting, call-to-text, voicemail transcription, online scheduling, intake and payments. ModMed's page describes converting calls into text chats, not an AI voice agent that answers the phone. ModMed does not publish pricing; confirm current plans and features directly with ModMed.
Key factors that matter to medical practices — compared honestly.
| Feature | MedReceptionist | Klara (now ModMed) |
|---|---|---|
| Call Answering Model | Fully automated AI — answers every call 24/7 | Messaging-first: call-to-text and voicemail transcription (per ModMed) |
| Answers your phone? | Yes — the AI answers, converses, and books | ModMed’s page describes turning calls into text chats, not an AI voice agent |
| Books into your EHR | Yes — appointments written directly to your EHR | Part of ModMed — confirm your EHR |
| HIPAA BAA | Included | Not stated on ModMed’s patient-engagement page |
| Two-way patient texting | Included | Included (two-way texting) |
| After-hours coverage | Same AI, 24/7 — no add-on | Online scheduling; messages are answered by staff |
| Insurance eligibility checks | Built in | Intake offered; eligibility checks not listed |
| Reviews + payments | Included | Payments offered; reviews not listed |
| Pricing | $349/month flat, month-to-month, no per-provider fees | Not published — quote from ModMed |
| Built for | Practices that want calls ANSWERED automatically | Practices standardizing patient messaging/intake around text |
Pricing and feature information accurate as of May 2026. Klara (ModMed Patient Engagement) does not publish pricing; features checked on modmed.com October 2026. Feature claims reflect publicly documented capabilities.
Klara (now ModMed Patient Engagement) centers on secure texting, call-to-text and voicemail transcription — inbound calls become messages your staff answer. MedReceptionist answers the call itself with a conversational AI that books appointments into your EHR in real time. Confirm Klara's current voice features with Klara directly.
With Klara, a missed call becomes a text thread your team handles when free. With MedReceptionist there is no missed call — the AI picks up 24/7, so the patient books instead of waiting for a callback.
MedReceptionist is $349/month flat ($249/month with any MedSiteAI website plan) for the practice, month-to-month, no per-provider fees. ModMed does not publish Klara pricing — get a quote and compare the totals.
Yes. Some practices keep a messaging platform for ongoing patient threads and add MedReceptionist so the PHONE is answered automatically — they solve different problems.
Yes — two-way patient texting, appointment reminders, review requests, eligibility checks, and payments are included in the flat $349/month.
20-minute demo. We configure it for your specialty and call your practice number live.
Sources (competitor pages, checked 2026-10-16): www.modmed.com/what-we-do/patient-engagement