Alternative Insurance Coding

[Guest guest]

Ruth -

 

There is a difference in states where insurance companies pay - no question. You would be busier, at first doing a lot of paper work until your staff gets up to speed.

 

Will

 

 

I would like to be busier, yet I like my patient base as it is now - what is the answer?

Do you see a difference in states where insurance pays?

[Guest guest]

Dear Will,

Thanks for your input. I practice in PA, where acupuncture is not even

listed as a speciality for insurance. I have had only a couple insurances

pay, for workers comp and auto. I see in those few cases how it changes the

face of my patients drastically, so I have very mixed feelings about it.

I've been in practice 1 1/2 years, in a very economically depressed,rural

setting that has a small university, yet have been able to support myself

with only my practice. ( I have 2 satelite locations in towns 45 minutes

away to add to my base population of 6000.) Many people have a difficult

time paying and I have adjusted my fees for some, but I don't want to

continue this practice - does anyone else do that? Maybe for number of

visits in a given time, but not for income based. But then I rule out those

in the income category of 'where I came from,' and feel I can better be of

service to have adjustments available....but don't know how to fairly do

that.

 

Plus, I recently had a Blue Cross representative tell a patient " If you bill

it under physical theraphy codes, we will pay. After the call ended, she

called him back to say spcifically 'don't use these codes - 97780 & 97781

(the acup codes). That they do not pay those. My thinking on this

alternative coding is that by keeping the records they discuss on the

website, it would sooner show the insurance companies how many people want

this option. Like I said, my feelings are mixed on the issue. I would like

to be busier, yet I like my patient base as it is now - what is the answer?

Do you see a difference in states where insurance pays?

Ruth

 

 

 

 

_______________

Surf the Web without missing calls! Get MSN Broadband.

http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/freeactivation.asp