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medical billing
hi everyone, i would like tro know your experiences with medical billing, and if it is worth it.
Views: 106
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on
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It has been worth it to me, but everyone's circumstances are different. I am in a much different situation than a lone practitioner. I own a multi-disciplinary clinic with a chiropractor, and acupuncturists, and a bunch of MTs. I hired the chiropractor because in my state (NC), most of the major medical companies only cover massage when done under a chiropractor.
I do not take personal injury or Worker's Comp cases. I billed over $50,000 worth last year and expect it to be substantially more this year. It has grown every year.
Prior to getting the chiropractor in my practice, I was billing $10-12,000 a year from the enlightened companies that would pay without that restriction.
The amount of paperwork is daunting, and if you're not the meticulous type with keeping notes and billing on time, it's not for you. You also have to watch cash flow. I pay my staff at the time of service, and I am the one waiting for the money. At times, they've owed me $10,000 in money I've already paid out. If you're up to the challenges that go along with it, you can make a lot of money from it.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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I just started a group to try to address this
http://www.massageprofessionals.com/group/massageinsurancebilling
It is different in every state but if we can start connecting with people in your area and learn from them it could really help move us along in this arena. I have some general info but there are so many details you really need more help. My group might get too confusing but just thought I'd try.
I have been billing successfully for 21 years. It can be a blessing and a pain in the neck! I finally figured out it is mainly learning the ropes and I can now really weed out cases that will be more challenging paperwork wise that I don't have time to deal with.
Julie
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Permalink Reply by Darcy Neibaur on
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Contact Vivian Madison Mahoney on this site
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Permalink Reply by Vivian Madison Mahoney on
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Hi, sorry I don't have a name to address you properly. But will try to answer your question in the most accurate way as possible. I will give you some background so you know where I am coming from (if you don't mind).
I have been billing insurance for 25 years and have now been instructing massage therapists in FL since 1990 and around the entire country since 1994 with my NCBTMB approved Home Study Courses, manuals, live seminars, etc.
When I first started, NO ONE billed insurance. From all I can find out I billed the first insurance case for massage in 1984. I was so excited when my first check arrived that I was off and running!!
With the help of great therapists working for me as well as my daughters, we built my business to exceed 172 physicians from all specialites referring to my office, built my practice to billing insurance for over 400 patient visits monthly and was bringing in over $500,000 yearly. That was billing and receviing only $58.50-$65.00 per an hours session, seeing on the average of 28 to 32 patients daily. I might add here that my therapists made no less than $20.00 per hour sessoin and up to $35.00 per session. Back then!!
I was so proud and so excited!!
I later (1989) wrote the first insurance billing manual for massage therapists (80 pages) today that manual exceeds 450 pages, about insurance billing, building a medically oriented practice, marketing & promotion, and how to save your money from the IRS and taxes, and so much more.
In 1990 the FL State Massage Therapy Assoc (representing about 5,000 members and looking out for 30,000 state licensed therapists), asked me to serve as Insurance Committee Chair /Consultant. I accepted and still hold that position on their Executive Board today. As you may have read, I write insurance articles for major massage publications.
I love helping massage therapists to open new doors, to get their start and to see themm build their businesses. I still get the same thrill of excitment and ego building by helping massage therapists succeed as I did when I provided massages to clients /patients who would say things like, "I sure wish I could have came to you for massage many years ago, that is the best massage I ever had in my life." Etc.. as many of us hear!!
Now with that out of the way, let me say that accepting insurance is a great, great way to open new doors, get more new clients, earn much more money, work for yourself and build a business where you can have more independence and freedom and be able to spend more QUALITY time with family and friends.
Is it always easy? No, Is it lucritive? It certainly can be as I explained above. Remember then there were no guidelines, no one to turn to, no one to show the way, no one to make it easy or to stop me from running into brick walls etc.
Does it involve paperwork? Of course, But I feel sure you or others do not expect to earn a good living or extra income without doing a bit extra for it, right? When it gets to be too much, what's wrong with trading massage for someone to answer your phone or to help with a few phone calls or paperwork? The lady I hired to do this (trading with first) was elderly and later purchased my massage practice for me.
Great things happen when you are ready, willing and keep an open mind!!
Today I am here to help and you'll find others also willing to help.
My very strong recommendation is to get it right from the start. To head down the wrong road is very difficult to turn around and come back to start over again. Avoid depression, delays, denials, reductions and losses by being sure you start off on the right foot. Accept only cases that will pay, be sure you are organized with yourr files and paperwork is in order to begin with.
You need to treat this as a separate business within your general massage business. What that means is this, you had certain investments to make to start your massage practice, you had to cross certain bridges and spend time learning what meant so much for you. Now that you are trained and licensed or certified as a professional in this trade, you need to be able to earn income from all of your training. If you wish to learn insurance the right way, you will need to invest in the "tools of the trade". to make it happen for you correctly from the start.
You can accept certain types of cases easily and effectively. I did read a post where it was stated that the person never accpts workers' compensation or auto cases. I would like to know the state you live in to help more, but per my info in the start of this letter, 78% or more of my successful practice was due to accepting and billing for auto and work comp cases. Still the type of cases today that are the most lucritive and easiest to acccpet for a massage therapists working on their own.
I'll also make another comment, I am not sure for most states but I do know one for sure where it is illegal for a massage therapist to hire another licensed professional such as a physician to bill for massage therapy services.
The other way is to work for a physician (including chiropractor) as an independent contractor or an employee and then be paid by them as they bill for services under their license. This does NOT give you the independence or freedom you may be looking for, nor can you earn the type of money you can on your own.
So sorry to have made this way too long but I feel such passion for this business and have paved so many roads I want to see you get on the right one from the beginning.
Thanks for letting me share with you. If you would like to contact me directly you may do so through my email: vivianmadison@aol.com - Attachments:
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I got your book back in 2002, and it taught me everything I needed to know! I highly recommend it!
Vivian Madison Mahoney said:Hi, sorry I don't have a name to address you properly. But will try to answer your question in the most accurate way as possible. I will give you some background so you know where I am coming from (if you don't mind).
I have been billing insurance for 25 years and have now been instructing massage therapists in FL since 1990 and around the entire country since 1994 with my NCBTMB approved Home Study Courses, manuals, live seminars, etc.
When I first started, NO ONE billed insurance. From all I can find out I billed the first insurance case for massage in 1984. I was so excited when my first check arrived that I was off and running!!
With the help of great therapists working for me as well as my daughters, we built my business to exceed 172 physicians from all specialites referring to my office, built my practice to billing insurance for over 400 patient visits monthly and was bringing in over $500,000 yearly. That was billing and receviing only $58.50-$65.00 per an hours session, seeing on the average of 28 to 32 patients daily. I might add here that my therapists made no less than $20.00 per hour sessoin and up to $35.00 per session. Back then!!
I was so proud and so excited!!
I later (1989) wrote the first insurance billing manual for massage therapists (80 pages) today that manual exceeds 450 pages, about insurance billing, building a medically oriented practice, marketing & promotion, and how to save your money from the IRS and taxes, and so much more.
In 1990 the FL State Massage Therapy Assoc (representing about 5,000 members and looking out for 30,000 state licensed therapists), asked me to serve as Insurance Committee Chair /Consultant. I accepted and still hold that position on their Executive Board today. As you may have read, I write insurance articles for major massage publications.
I love helping massage therapists to open new doors, to get their start and to see themm build their businesses. I still get the same thrill of excitment and ego building by helping massage therapists succeed as I did when I provided massages to clients /patients who would say things like, "I sure wish I could have came to you for massage many years ago, that is the best massage I ever had in my life." Etc.. as many of us hear!!
Now with that out of the way, let me say that accepting insurance is a great, great way to open new doors, get more new clients, earn much more money, work for yourself and build a business where you can have more independence and freedom and be able to spend more QUALITY time with family and friends.
Is it always easy? No, Is it lucritive? It certainly can be as I explained above. Remember then there were no guidelines, no one to turn to, no one to show the way, no one to make it easy or to stop me from running into brick walls etc.
Does it involve paperwork? Of course, But I feel sure you or others do not expect to earn a good living or extra income without doing a bit extra for it, right? When it gets to be too much, what's wrong with trading massage for someone to answer your phone or to help with a few phone calls or paperwork? The lady I hired to do this (trading with first) was elderly and later purchased my massage practice for me.
Great things happen when you are ready, willing and keep an open mind!!
Today I am here to help and you'll find others also willing to help.
My very strong recommendation is to get it right from the start. To head down the wrong road is very difficult to turn around and come back to start over again. Avoid depression, delays, denials, reductions and losses by being sure you start off on the right foot. Accept only cases that will pay, be sure you are organized with yourr files and paperwork is in order to begin with.
You need to treat this as a separate business within your general massage business. What that means is this, you had certain investments to make to start your massage practice, you had to cross certain bridges and spend time learning what meant so much for you. Now that you are trained and licensed or certified as a professional in this trade, you need to be able to earn income from all of your training. If you wish to learn insurance the right way, you will need to invest in the "tools of the trade". to make it happen for you correctly from the start.
You can accept certain types of cases easily and effectively. I did read a post where it was stated that the person never accpts workers' compensation or auto cases. I would like to know the state you live in to help more, but per my info in the start of this letter, 78% or more of my successful practice was due to accepting and billing for auto and work comp cases. Still the type of cases today that are the most lucritive and easiest to acccpet for a massage therapists working on their own.
I'll also make another comment, I am not sure for most states but I do know one for sure where it is illegal for a massage therapist to hire another licensed professional such as a physician to bill for massage therapy services.
The other way is to work for a physician (including chiropractor) as an independent contractor or an employee and then be paid by them as they bill for services under their license. This does NOT give you the independence or freedom you may be looking for, nor can you earn the type of money you can on your own.
So sorry to have made this way too long but I feel such passion for this business and have paved so many roads I want to see you get on the right one from the beginning.
Thanks for letting me share with you. If you would like to contact me directly you may do so through my email: vivianmadison@aol.com
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