Accepting and billing insurance

[Guest guest]

Hi All-

 

I thought I'd pass this along for all those weighing whether or not to sign on

with health insurance companies as a provider. A friend of mine who is an

chiropractor in the same town where I practice, strongly recommended that if I

can manage to build a sustaining practice without accepting insurance, then that

is what I should do. He said he has to bill $130 per treatment in order to

receive only $30, and it eats into his $30 to have to pay someone to do the

billing and follow-up. He has a busy practice, in two different cities, works 6

days a week, and is struggling to make ends meet, despite how hard he works and

how busy he is. In the end, he says, insurance doesn't " pay " .

 

What he tells me matches what I heard in one of the practice management seminars

I took after I finished acupuncture school, FYI.

 

 

 

 

 

Building a website is a piece of cake.

Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Andrea,

 

There are many business models and ways to be successful. I have worked

with and billed for insurance (auto) and been paid quite well. I have a partner

who has also done well and built her business mostly off of auto cases and

routinely

receives about $100 per patient visit. Your DC must have a very high overhead

(mall locations and staff). As a small practitioner one can do much of this

themselves if they are organized and schedule time well. Many of us just do not

seem to understand how it works. Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

 

: :

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:02:07 -0700Accepting and billing insurance

 

 

 

 

Hi All-I thought I'd pass this along for all those weighing whether or not to

sign on with health insurance companies as a provider. A friend of mine who is

an chiropractor in the same town where I practice, strongly recommended that if

I can manage to build a sustaining practice without accepting insurance, then

that is what I should do. He said he has to bill $130 per treatment in order to

receive only $30, and it eats into his $30 to have to pay someone to do the

billing and follow-up. He has a busy practice, in two different cities, works 6

days a week, and is struggling to make ends meet, despite how hard he works and

how busy he is. In the end, he says, insurance doesn't " pay " .What he tells me

matches what I heard in one of the practice management seminars I took after I

finished acupuncture school, FYI.,

L.Ac.Building a website is a piece of cake.

Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.[Non-text portions

of this message have been removed]

 

 

_______________

Local listings, incredible imagery, and driving directions - all in one place!

Find it!

http://maps.live.com/?wip=69 & FORM=MGAC01

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Mike,

 

Thanks for your post. Actually, this chiropractor has low-rent offices and no

staff, and is rushing like a madman all the time to get through his patient

load. I have referred patients to him, who complain about his rushing and

seeming to " forget " them while they are on the table with e-stim or whatever, so

I no longer refer to him. It seems like he is doing something wrong (other than

over-scheduling), but I don't know what it is.

 

By the way, I have also heard of a naturopath in Sedona who went out of business

because she couldn't receive payment from insurance companies to the tune of

$250,000. Perhaps the insurance game is harder in Arizona than it is where you

are.

 

 

 

mike Bowser <naturaldoc1 wrote: Andrea,

 

There are many business models and ways to be successful. I have worked

with and billed for insurance (auto) and been paid quite well. I have a partner

who has also done well and built her business mostly off of auto cases and

routinely

receives about $100 per patient visit. Your DC must have a very high overhead

(mall locations and staff). As a small practitioner one can do much of this

themselves if they are organized and schedule time well. Many of us just do not

seem to understand how it works. Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

 

: :

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:02:07 -0700Accepting and billing insurance

 

 

 

 

Hi All-I thought I'd pass this along for all those weighing whether or not to

sign on with health insurance companies as a provider. A friend of mine who is

an chiropractor in the same town where I practice, strongly recommended that if

I can manage to build a sustaining practice without accepting insurance, then

that is what I should do. He said he has to bill $130 per treatment in order to

receive only $30, and it eats into his $30 to have to pay someone to do the

billing and follow-up. He has a busy practice, in two different cities, works 6

days a week, and is struggling to make ends meet, despite how hard he works and

how busy he is. In the end, he says, insurance doesn't " pay " .What he tells me

matches what I heard in one of the practice management seminars I took after I

finished acupuncture school, FYI.,

L.Ac.Building a website is a piece of cake.

Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.[Non-text

portions of this message have been removed]

 

 

_______________

Local listings, incredible imagery, and driving directions - all in one place!

Find it!

http://maps.live.com/?wip=69 & FORM=MGAC01

 

 

[Guest guest]

I recently started accepting BCBS insurance (I'm in Maryland) and I have to

say it has been a relatively easy process. One of my patients doesnt even have

to pay a co pay, BC pays me $74.50 of the $75.00 that I charge him. The

majority of my patients pay me a $15 copay and the insurance company pays me

$52-59 dollars. For me the extra hour I spend a week on paperwork (you can bill

electronically if you see less than 250 patients a month) is worth it and is

much shorter than the 2-3 hours I would spend a week trying to find things to

do to build my practice if I wasnt using BCBS. I just bill acupuncture, I

do not use cupping, tuina, nor e stim, nor herbs (I'm just not trained in these

yet). I have a feeling maybe adding these things in on a bill makes it

more complicated? Just my experience, I am sure that there will be people who

have had bad experiences too. If anyone is in MD, I would rec the class that

Anne mentioned. Judith Rozier is the one offering it and she was the one who

first helped me set up my BC stuff. Contact me if you want her contact

information or you can visit her website at _www.montgomeryacupuncture.com_

(http://www.montgomeryacupuncture.com) if you are interested.

Be Well,

Beth

 

Beth Grubb

Licensed Acupuncturist

Certified Animal Acupuncturist

410-591-2644

beth

www.bethgrubb.com

 

 

 

************************************** Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL at

http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Andrea:

 

I really believe this insurance issue is state specific. There is a practiioner

here in MD who takes every insurance under the sun. Started her business just a

not long ago and is doing very well. She is offering a workshop for

practitioners on how to do this. I know other practitioners who became very

busy right away by taking insurance. I don't take it, and will probably go to

her workshop just to see what goes on when my patients file it. There is so

liitle training on this.

 

I ran into an acupuncturist from FL recently who bills and gets reimbursed a

handsome rate from insurance. He gave me the name of his insurance biller (and

he pay 10% but had no problem with it), but somehow I don't think FL and MD will

be the same. I hear the practitioners in FL are viewed more like primary care

physicians. Is this true also in CA?

 

I have to admit, every chiropractor or MD (practiicing acupuncture) I have met

gives the advice - If you don't have to take insurance, don't.

My chiropractor is also running around like a madman - good analogy. He does

appear in control of the madness. His only staff is the receptionist and the

biller (and a wife at home running the business end). He does all the chiro

work. He uses some tool (that drill punch look) that looks like an activator

but it is more high powered. I actually like it. Better than neck bones

crunching. He also uses the cold laser (on my plantar fasciitis). Then he puts

you on the water bed for 8 mins. No electrobes, no ultrasound.

 

Anne

 

 

-------------- Original message ----------------------

<

> Hi Mike,

>

> Thanks for your post. Actually, this chiropractor has low-rent offices and no

> staff, and is rushing like a madman all the time to get through his patient

> load. I have referred patients to him, who complain about his rushing and

> seeming to " forget " them while they are on the table with e-stim or whatever,

so

> I no longer refer to him. It seems like he is doing something wrong (other

than

> over-scheduling), but I don't know what it is.

>

> By the way, I have also heard of a naturopath in Sedona who went out of

business

> because she couldn't receive payment from insurance companies to the tune of

> $250,000. Perhaps the insurance game is harder in Arizona than it is where

you

> are.

>

>

>

> mike Bowser <naturaldoc1 wrote: Andrea,

>

> There are many business models and ways to be successful. I have worked

> with and billed for insurance (auto) and been paid quite well. I have a

partner

> who has also done well and built her business mostly off of auto cases and

> routinely

> receives about $100 per patient visit. Your DC must have a very high overhead

> (mall locations and staff). As a small practitioner one can do much of this

> themselves if they are organized and schedule time well. Many of us just do

not

> seem to understand how it works. Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

>

>

> : :

> Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:02:07 -0700Accepting and billing insurance

>

>

>

>

> Hi All-I thought I'd pass this along for all those weighing whether or not to

> sign on with health insurance companies as a provider. A friend of mine who is

> an chiropractor in the same town where I practice, strongly recommended that

if

> I can manage to build a sustaining practice without accepting insurance, then

> that is what I should do. He said he has to bill $130 per treatment in order

to

> receive only $30, and it eats into his $30 to have to pay someone to do the

> billing and follow-up. He has a busy practice, in two different cities, works

6

> days a week, and is struggling to make ends meet, despite how hard he works

and

> how busy he is. In the end, he says, insurance doesn't " pay " .What he tells me

> matches what I heard in one of the practice management seminars I took after I

> finished acupuncture school, FYI.,

> L.Ac.Building a website is a piece of cake.

> Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.[Non-text

> portions of this message have been removed]

>

>

> _______________

> Local listings, incredible imagery, and driving directions - all in one place!

> Find it!

> http://maps.live.com/?wip=69 & FORM=MGAC01

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Anne,

 

I have been practicing for the last 2-1/2 years in Arizona, so I am not

knowledgeable about current regulations for acupuncturists in California, even

though I keep my California license current. I remember something about the

term " Primary care physicians " from California statutes, but in Arizona, we are

not allowed to use the term " physicians " when referring to ourselves.

 

Andrea Beth

 

anne.crowley wrote: Andrea Beth:

 

I hear the practitioners in FL are viewed more like primary care physicians.

Is this true also in CA?

 

 

 

Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell.

 

 

[Guest guest]

If my patients' insurance covers acupuncture, I simply click

the " superbill " button instead of the " simple invoice " button. They

can turn the superbill into their insurance company and have alot

better chance of getting paid than I ever will. I have already been

paid by the patient, and they get paid back by the insurance company.

Of the 40 some patients that I am currently seeing, only 2 have

insurance that will cover acupuncture. At this time I plan to NEVER

dircect bill insurance companies.

Ron in Phoenix

[Guest guest]

I would add not just viewed as primarycare but actually and legally given

this status in treating patients. Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

 

: :

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 07:42:27 -0700RE: Accepting and billing

insurance

 

 

 

 

Hi Anne,I have been practicing for the last 2-1/2 years in Arizona, so I am not

knowledgeable about current regulations for acupuncturists in California, even

though I keep my California license current. I remember something about the term

" Primary care physicians " from California statutes, but in Arizona, we are not

allowed to use the term " physicians " when referring to ourselves.Andrea Beth

anne.crowley wrote: Andrea Beth:I hear the practitioners in FL are

viewed more like primary care physicians. Is this true also in

CA?Pinpoint customers who are looking for what

you sell.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/15/07 11:43:00 AM, pokerboy729 writes:

 

 

> By billing insurance directly, their payment is often over $75 (in my

> experience in NY...often over $100).

>

 

Elie,

Just curious, what insurance companies do you find will pay for acupuncture

in New York State? The only one I have billed so far is Signa, and they only

paid $37.50 per treatment, billed at $90.

--RoseAnne

 

 

**************************************

Get a sneak peak of the

all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Ron,

 

What program are you using? This sounds almost too easy. And which insurance

companies do you find cover acupuncture in this state (I too am in Arizona). I

love the idea of the superbills.

 

Thank you,

 

 

rbaddorfaz <rbaddorf wrote: If my patients' insurance covers

acupuncture, I simply click

the " superbill " button instead of the " simple invoice " button. They

can turn the superbill into their insurance company and have alot

better chance of getting paid than I ever will. I have already been

paid by the patient, and they get paid back by the insurance company.

Of the 40 some patients that I am currently seeing, only 2 have

insurance that will cover acupuncture. At this time I plan to NEVER

dircect bill insurance companies.

Ron in Phoenix

 

 

 

 

 

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.

Answers - Check it out.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I actually prefer billing insurance over cash and IMHO these are my

reasons why.

 

1. For the health of the patient:

There are many times when a patient needs to get acupuncture more than

once a week (2-3 times) esp. for musculoskeletal pain. Or sometimes

the patient is not improving and you think they would do better if

they come more often. With cash patients it is very hard for them to

come more than once a week and often they will not. With insurance

they have no problem coming 3 times a week so there is a better chance

of improving their health.

 

2. More financial gain:

By billing insurance directly, their payment is often over $75 (in my

experience in NY...often over $100). So instead of taking $60-$90 cash

from patient (depending what you charge), you can often get just as

much or more from the insurance. On top of that they could come 2-3

times a week and you make so much more!

 

Thanks,

Elie

Acupuncture & Directory

Boost your rankings! Get Patients!

http://www.tcmdirectory.com

[Guest guest]

Did you bill more then one unit of cpt? Insr will often only pay a low amount

per unit but you can bill for more then depending upon time and how many times

you inserted needles. Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

 

: ra6151: Sun,

15 Jul 2007 12:21:16 -0400Re: Accepting and billing insurance

 

 

 

 

In a message dated 7/15/07 11:43:00 AM, pokerboy729 writes:> By

billing insurance directly, their payment is often over $75 (in my> experience

in NY...often over $100).> Elie,Just curious, what insurance companies do you

find will pay for acupuncture in New York State? The only one I have billed so

far is Signa, and they only paid $37.50 per treatment, billed at

$90.--RoseAnne**************************************Get a sneak peak of the

all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour[Non-text portions of

this message have been removed]

 

 

_______________

Local listings, incredible imagery, and driving directions - all in one place!

Find it!

http://maps.live.com/?wip=69 & FORM=MGAC01

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi RosaAnne,

So far the insurance companies that have paid me for acupuncture are

Cigna, Aetna, Empire BCBS, No Fault, & United Healthcare.

But just to let you know, insurance companies that have not paid me are

Cigna, Aetna, Empire BCBS, No Fault, & United Healthcare.

 

We have to call and verify every patient because even the same plan my

not cover another person.

I had a United Healthcare Choice Plus patient covered and when another

patient came in with the same coverage (I got all excited) was not

covered.

 

As Mike said, if you bill a second unit you will get paid more.

Also being out of network pays more. (But then they have a deductible)

 

Thanks,

Elie

Acupuncture & Directory

Boost your rankings! Get Patients!

http://www.tcmdirectory.com

 

 

Chinese Medicine , ra6151 wrote:

>

>

> In a message dated 7/15/07 11:43:00 AM, pokerboy729 writes:

>

>

> > By billing insurance directly, their payment is often over $75 (in my

> > experience in NY...often over $100).

> >

>

> Elie,

> Just curious, what insurance companies do you find will pay for

acupuncture

> in New York State? The only one I have billed so far is Signa, and

they only

> paid $37.50 per treatment, billed at $90.

> --RoseAnne

>

>

> **************************************

> Get a sneak peak of the

> all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'd like to recommend another - acubilling. shane is incredibly

knowledgeable in the field of insurance. the advice is practical and real

world, however, with a California bias.

 

Sydnie Bryant, L.Ac.

Pittsburgh, PA

 

_______________

http://newlivehotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Hi elie, are you in or out of network?

 

And thanks to everyone for all the info about insurance billing.

I have been thinking about this recently...my plan thus far is

superbill companies that I know only pay small amount to cover tx,

or companies I am not so thrilled to work with.

 

I am in network with one company and seem to be getting a fair

number of patients from being listed in their directory. Have not

billed, so don't know how they will pay. And am now wondering

whether it is worth being in network with some other companies, or

remaining out of network.

 

And in terms of billing, my understand ing is to do one code for

acup, one code for 15 min consult. Is this right? I think we have

dicussed this on this board 6 months back or so. And how do you set

prices for these codes? Any hints on this?

 

I have been told it is better to bill higher amounts for services,

as companies will ueually pay less than what you ask. A PT insur

biller told me this...

 

thanks all,

 

--- In

Chinese Medicine , " TCMdirectory.com "

<pokerboy729 wrote:

>

> Hi RosaAnne,

> So far the insurance companies that have paid me for acupuncture

are

> Cigna, Aetna, Empire BCBS, No Fault, & United Healthcare.

> But just to let you know, insurance companies that have not paid

me are

> Cigna, Aetna, Empire BCBS, No Fault, & United Healthcare.

>

> We have to call and verify every patient because even the same

plan my

> not cover another person.

> I had a United Healthcare Choice Plus patient covered and when

another

> patient came in with the same coverage (I got all excited) was not

> covered.

>

> As Mike said, if you bill a second unit you will get paid more.

> Also being out of network pays more. (But then they have a

deductible)

>

> Thanks,

> Elie

> Acupuncture & Directory

> Boost your rankings! Get Patients!

> http://www.tcmdirectory.com

>

>

> Chinese Medicine , ra6151@ wrote:

> >

> >

> > In a message dated 7/15/07 11:43:00 AM, pokerboy729@ writes:

> >

> >

> > > By billing insurance directly, their payment is often over $75

(in my

> > > experience in NY...often over $100).

> > >

> >

> > Elie,

> > Just curious, what insurance companies do you find will pay for

> acupuncture

> > in New York State? The only one I have billed so far is Signa,

and

> they only

> > paid $37.50 per treatment, billed at $90.

> > --RoseAnne

> >

> >

> > **************************************

> > Get a sneak peak of the

> > all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Chinese Medicine , " "

wrote:

>

> Hi elie, are you in or out of network?

> am now wondering

> whether it is worth being in network with some other companies, or

> remaining out of network.

 

Hi ,

I am out of network. At one point I was thinking about trying to get

in-network but changed my mind. There are advantages to both. In-

network you wont have the high deductibles to eat up first and

supposedly you get referrals. Out of network though they pay higher.

 

> And in terms of billing, my understanding is to do one code for

> acup, one code for 15 min consult. Is this right?

 

As far as billing goes, I am by far an expert. But if you are

referring to the initial consult code that is just for their first

treatment (and occasional re-evals) so that should not be billed for

each treatment.

 

> And how do you set

> prices for these codes? Any hints on this?

> I have been told it is better to bill higher amounts for services,

> as companies will ueually pay less than what you ask. A PT insur

> biller told me this...

 

Whatever you normally charge for cash, for insurance raise it up 10

fold and bill those bastards! just kidding, felt like being silly

for the moment. Don't do that.

Actually you can not raise your prices for insurance. But if you

start to include insurance patients more, one option is to raise

your overall prices. You can always give discounts for those

struggling.

 

Thanks,

Elie

Acupuncture & Directory

Boost your rankings! Get Patients!

http://www.tcmdirectory.com

 

 

Chinese Medicine , " "

wrote:

>

> Hi elie, are you in or out of network?

>

> And thanks to everyone for all the info about insurance

billing.

> I have been thinking about this recently...my plan thus far is

> superbill companies that I know only pay small amount to cover tx,

> or companies I am not so thrilled to work with.

>

> I am in network with one company and seem to be getting a fair

> number of patients from being listed in their directory. Have not

> billed, so don't know how they will pay. And am now wondering

> whether it is worth being in network with some other companies, or

> remaining out of network.

>

> And in terms of billing, my understand ing is to do one code for

> acup, one code for 15 min consult. Is this right? I think we

have

> dicussed this on this board 6 months back or so. And how do you

set

> prices for these codes? Any hints on this?

>

> I have been told it is better to bill higher amounts for

services,

> as companies will ueually pay less than what you ask. A PT insur

> biller told me this...

>

> thanks all,

>

> --- In

> Chinese Medicine , " TCMdirectory.com "

> <pokerboy729@> wrote:

> >

> > Hi RosaAnne,

> > So far the insurance companies that have paid me for acupuncture

> are

> > Cigna, Aetna, Empire BCBS, No Fault, & United Healthcare.

> > But just to let you know, insurance companies that have not paid

> me are

> > Cigna, Aetna, Empire BCBS, No Fault, & United Healthcare.

> >

> > We have to call and verify every patient because even the same

> plan my

> > not cover another person.

> > I had a United Healthcare Choice Plus patient covered and when

> another

> > patient came in with the same coverage (I got all excited) was

not

> > covered.

> >

> > As Mike said, if you bill a second unit you will get paid more.

> > Also being out of network pays more. (But then they have a

> deductible)

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Elie

> > Acupuncture & Directory

> > Boost your rankings! Get Patients!

> > http://www.tcmdirectory.com

> >

> >

> > Chinese Medicine , ra6151@

wrote:

> > >

> > >

> > > In a message dated 7/15/07 11:43:00 AM, pokerboy729@ writes:

> > >

> > >

> > > > By billing insurance directly, their payment is often over

$75

> (in my

> > > > experience in NY...often over $100).

> > > >

> > >

> > > Elie,

> > > Just curious, what insurance companies do you find will pay for

> > acupuncture

> > > in New York State? The only one I have billed so far is

Signa,

> and

> > they only

> > > paid $37.50 per treatment, billed at $90.

> > > --RoseAnne

> > >

> > >

> > > **************************************

> > > Get a sneak peak of the

> > > all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Andrea,

I use a program called " Client Tracker " , it was recommended to me by another

acupuncturist on this forum, Chris Vedler (who teaches at PIHMA). It also keeps

our inventory and can print out a report of all sales tax collected. I'll post

a link in a bit. So far the only company is Aetna, and it depends on the policy

that the patient has.

 

Ron

 

 

[Guest guest]

http://www.ginkgosoftware.com/

 

 

[Guest guest]

I recently switched over to client tracker as well and have been very happy with

them.

Bob

www.acuherbals.com

 

Ron Hotmail <rbaddorf wrote:

Hi Andrea,

I use a program called " Client Tracker " , it was recommended to me by another

acupuncturist on this forum, Chris Vedler (who teaches at PIHMA). It also keeps

our inventory and can print out a report of all sales tax collected. I'll post a

link in a bit. So far the only company is Aetna, and it depends on the policy

that the patient has.

 

Ron

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Ron,

 

You are responding to my query about insurance in Arizona that pays for

acupuncture, if I remember, yes? I have some patients who have CIGNA, and

acupuncture is covered if their doctor recommends it. I am out of network, and

I have my patient pay up front, and give her a superbill for reimbursement. So

far this works like a charm.

 

Andrea Beth

 

Ron Hotmail <rbaddorf wrote: Hi Andrea,

I use a program called " Client Tracker " , it was recommended to me by another

acupuncturist on this forum, Chris Vedler (who teaches at PIHMA). It also keeps

our inventory and can print out a report of all sales tax collected. I'll post

a link in a bit. So far the only company is Aetna, and it depends on the policy

that the patient has.

 

Ron

 

 

[Guest guest]

I dropped the clientracker program as it was incomplete for the ICD-9 codes and

when I asked them about it they simply said they were not going to give that

info. Glad others like them. I have found that simply creating a pdf file for

the CMS 1500 form (there are fillable ones on the net) works great and costs

nothing to use.

 

Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

________________________________

> Chinese Medicine

> boblindeherbalist

> Tue, 17 Jul 2007 07:42:43 -0700

> Re: Re: Accepting and billing insurance

>

> I recently switched over to client tracker as well and have been very happy

with them.

> Bob

> www.acuherbals.com

> Ron Hotmail > wrote:

> Hi Andrea,

> I use a program called " Client Tracker " , it was recommended to me by another

acupuncturist on this forum, Chris Vedler (who teaches at PIHMA). It also keeps

our inventory and can print out a report of all sales tax collected. I'll post a

link in a bit. So far the only company is Aetna, and it depends on the policy

that the patient has.

> Ron

>

[Guest guest]

I also use client tracker because someone on this forum recommended it. 2

big problems. If you have a staff person, you cannot use it both

simu;ltaneously even if your computers are networked; it's for one user only

and you essentially have to ask the receptionist to give you her desk

whenever you want to enter or edit client data.

The second is the ICD 9 codes, they are often incorrect and that will cause

billing problems; they can be fixed, but it's a lot of work to do for you

when it seems to me asking a software program that is meant for medical use

to have accurate codes is not too much to ask.

 

Regards,

Angela Pfaffenberger, Ph.D.

 

angela.pf

Phone: 503 364 3022

-

" mike Bowser " <naturaldoc1

<Chinese Traditional Medicine >

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 11:23 AM

RE: Re: Accepting and billing insurance

 

 

 

I dropped the clientracker program as it was incomplete for the ICD-9 codes

and when I asked them about it they simply said they were not going to give

that info. Glad others like them. I have found that simply creating a pdf

file for the CMS 1500 form (there are fillable ones on the net) works great

and costs nothing to use.

 

Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

________________________________

> Chinese Medicine

> boblindeherbalist

> Tue, 17 Jul 2007 07:42:43 -0700

> Re: Re: Accepting and billing insurance

>

> I recently switched over to client tracker as well and have been very

> happy with them.

> Bob

> www.acuherbals.com

> Ron Hotmail > wrote:

> Hi Andrea,

> I use a program called " Client Tracker " , it was recommended to me by

> another acupuncturist on this forum, Chris Vedler (who teaches at PIHMA).

> It also keeps our inventory and can print out a report of all sales tax

> collected. I'll post a link in a bit. So far the only company is Aetna,

> and it depends on the policy that the patient has.

> Ron

>

[Guest guest]

My wife sets up my laptop out front with the software on it. The computers in

the treatment rooms she VPNs into the laptop so they can " take over " control on

the lap top. That way the database stays on 1 machine. It works pretty well.

The only problems have been when she has a pt. that wants a bill so they can pay

and leave, and I want to do SOAP notes on another pt. She is pretty quick, and

at most I have to wait about 1-2 minutes. I also make sure I turn off the

monitors in the tx rooms so no one can see anyone elses information.

 

Ron

 

 

[Guest guest]

what software do you use and how do you go about setting a system like

this up?

 

Chinese Medicine , " Ron Hotmail "

<rbaddorf wrote:

>

> My wife sets up my laptop out front with the software on it. The

computers in the treatment rooms she VPNs into the laptop so they

can " take over " control on the lap top. That way the database stays on

1 machine. It works pretty well. The only problems have been when she

has a pt. that wants a bill so they can pay and leave, and I want to do

SOAP notes on another pt. She is pretty quick, and at most I have to

wait about 1-2 minutes. I also make sure I turn off the monitors in

the tx rooms so no one can see anyone elses information.

>

> Ron

>

>

[Guest guest]

We use " clienttracker " . The problem we were haveing is that if I used a

computer in the treatment rooms for SOAP notes and to refer back to previous

visits, if she made an appointment or did an invoice out front, our database

would be screwed up and one of us would have to go back later and reentry all of

the information into one database. She is a network anylist, when she has to

access a clients server she uses VPN software to " take control " of the clients

computer and do what she has to do. She loaded VPN software onto the 3 computer

(1 out front and one in each treatment room) and connected them via a box

(switch or hub I don't remember and she is sleeping). The software resides on

my laptop that she has out front. I use the computers in the treatment rooms to

" take over " the laptop when I need to enter notes or open up the Manual of

Acupuncture software on the laptop or any of my other references that are there.

She can see me move the mouse and change screens, so if she needs to print an

invoice, she does it quick and then takes me back to the screen I was on. Still

a little inconvineance but the best we could come up with right now and it

rarely interferes with anything. I think the switch (or hub) was about $50.00

and the cabels (1 50 ft and 1 25ft) were about $90.00, and I don't know how much

the VPN software was.

VPN=

a.. Virtual private network - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A virtual private network (VPN) is a private communications network often used

within a company, or by several companies or organizations, to communicate

confidentially over a publicly accessible ...

 

a.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Private_Network

b.. · 7/20/2007

c.. · Cached page

 

Just remember to shut down the monitor when you leave the room, or exit the VPN

(has a password to get back in) on the computer in that room so a patient in one

room does not see anything about a patient in another room.

 

Hope that helps. It can be done with any software, be cause you are taking over

the computer, not just one program.

 

Ron