Treatment Discounts: selling insurance

[Guest guest]

Janis:  For example, if we discover clear documentation that states prepaying

for procedures (and thereby giving the patient a discount), is an option only

legally available to insurance companies, then I won't institute a prepayed

discount in my practice - and I will not be putting my license or practice in

jeopardy.  Following the law is a standard I will choose to apply to my

business, plain and simple.

 

Janis, I replied to this thread earlier, and I forgot to address this. It is

very true that selling packages, basically but legally, is selling insurance,

and healthcare providers cannot sell insurance, only insurance companies.

 

By the way, I am a Licensed Life and Health Insurance Agent. I'm not contracted

with a company, but I am required to do the same amount of education as if I

was.

 

Hope this is helpful, I've found this a fascinating discussion. I'm glad it's

happening.

 

Lynn

 

 

Pain is Normal - Be Weird!

 

J. Lynn Detamore, MS, L.Ac.

Licensed Acupuncturist

PO Box 14, Sheridan, OR 97378

503.474.8876

lynndetamore

 

~ Doing Better Than I Deserve ~

 

 

--- On Tue, 8/19/08, Janis Egan <janis3934 wrote:

 

Janis Egan <janis3934

Re: Treatment Discounts: no can do

Chinese Medicine

Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 1:58 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think this is a very valid topic and documentation supporting a position is

important.

 

Just because a business has a procedure that is never questioned, that doesn't

make it ethical or legal.  For example, working at a hospital that violates all

its human resource policies on time worked and salary paid, by overtly

encouraging its employees to punch in and out differently that actual work time,

or having a supervisor edit the punched in/out work hours to reduce the amount

of pay, doesn't make it OK - it is still illegal.  This is not a made-up example

and the practice continues to this day because no one seems to have the courage

to stand up to the bullies. 

 

I find having a widely acceptable standard to follow makes some business

decisions easier.

 

For example, if we discover clear documentation that states prepaying for

procedures (and thereby giving the patient a discount), is an option only

legally available to insurance companies, then I won't institute a prepayed

discount in my practice - and I will not be putting my license or practice in

jeopardy.  Following the law is a standard I will choose to apply to my

business, plain and simple.

 

There are many fraudulent billing practices going on in health care that aren't

prosecuted, because many people aren't aware of the facts - or have the nerve to

report them.  But, if you look up a few of those who do get reported and caught

- you can bet it wasn't worth it. 

 

It only takes one disgruntled competitor or savvy patient to blow it all out of

the water.  I do not want to be a practitioner who uses ignorance as an excuse

to break the law and ruin my practice.

 

I don't think this topic is about charging exorbitant rates for acupuncture or

judging those who don't.  It is about practicing your trade ethically and within

the legal structure that protects it from being shut down.

 

Best regards,

 

Janis