A patient registration record and payment system creates, maintains and transfers all relevant data electronically. The system captures patient registration and payment data, such as personal, demographic and insurance coverage information, medical history, frequently accessed healthcare providers, and data specifying one or more funding sources to pay for the amount of a medical visit for which the patient is responsible at the time of entry using graphical user interfaces through the Internet or a local area network. Moreover, the system includes the capability to access reference databases regarding verification of data for accuracy, completeness and validity on a continuous, automated basis and, where such reference databases are not available, to initiate manual verification of data for accuracy, completeness and validity by system personnel prior to making patient registration data available to customers or transferring such data to customer databases. Additionally, the system provides for an automated process to transfer payment from one or more funding sources specified by the patient at the time of entry to a deposit account specified by the healthcare provider.