tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post2876219361020649148..comments2024-03-18T03:28:36.581-04:00Comments on Shrink Rap: I Don't Know What to Charge!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-8073972869468286972010-05-17T12:44:18.435-04:002010-05-17T12:44:18.435-04:00Sunny CA, one might think it's unfair and insu...Sunny CA, one might think it's unfair and insulting, but the patient's perception is important to talk about. It's not really subject to the rules of reason and politeness; it's probably not only a response to the facts but also evidence of something that's going on inside the patient. <br /><br />It is just as hard for a patient as a doctor to figure out what the payment is supposed to be, and after a while you might think you're being exploited intentionally (however bizarre that might seem when the amount is only $4.50), or, conversely, that you're not being given proper care or attention. I guess it could be said that the patient's response to the situation is overdetermined.Lunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-907761269764092662010-05-17T07:23:18.939-04:002010-05-17T07:23:18.939-04:00You know there are people who take care of this ha...You know there are people who take care of this hassle for you for a percentage. Let me know and I'll send you a link to one if interested. I checked her out for a project I was doing but have no actual experience with her.Randall Sextonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08942283223874316290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-55339860490975489472010-05-14T21:20:30.900-04:002010-05-14T21:20:30.900-04:00I realize that sick people can't figure it out...I realize that sick people can't figure it out, but then for these same sick people to complain about a $4.50 overcharge as though it is fraud is unfair and insulting.Sunny CAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451116932556227816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-79862804530377557372010-05-14T21:15:25.282-04:002010-05-14T21:15:25.282-04:00Seriously, you got a nasty letter from a patient o...Seriously, you got a nasty letter from a patient over $4.50? The going rate for a 15 minute session with a psychiatrist seems to be about $85. Accusing a professional of deliberately overcharging by four dollars and fifty cents seems.. *ahem* ..crazy.<br /><br />Is some explanation of the ridiculous medicare bureaucracy and an agreement that changes will be credited to the patient's account not something you can put into one of those office policy statements that everybody has to sign? Or is that against some bizarre medicare rule too?<br /><br />And I'd been wondering why there's a new office policy document to sign every time I see my shrink..Maggiehttp://maggiedoll.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-93756877616453662010-05-14T07:43:24.698-04:002010-05-14T07:43:24.698-04:00It's completely unreasonable that you can'...It's completely unreasonable that you can't find all of these numbers spelled out for you on a website. <br /><br />I think this is an example of why many psychiatrists do go the extra step to "opt out" of Medicare. It's easy to judge them negatively for not accepting Medicare, but they avoid this extra web of bureaucracy and have one less barrier between themselves and their patients interfering with treatment. <br /><br />I've never been in private practice myself and at this point find that I'm able to focus on practicing psychiatry and not on these types of hassles by being employed.Lockup Dochttp://lockupdoc.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1325972716699169942010-05-14T07:27:18.276-04:002010-05-14T07:27:18.276-04:00Oh Sunny CA, somebody who's really sick and do...Oh Sunny CA, somebody who's really sick and doing unwell may have a hard time figuring that stuff out. And maybe you could tell your patients about the uncertainty upfront.<br /><br />I had a hospital admin person try to charge me less than I owed in co-pays, because that's what her computer told her. She got a little snippy, and I apologized later, but then it turned out that other people had run into the same problem. At the time I didn't have much money and getting bills after the fact was not nice.<br /><br />I saw a doctor who had opted out, but what's the difference between a participating and a non-participating provider?<br /><br />It's funny. It seems like a lot of private practice psychiatrists really hate Medicare, but there are surveys of other types of doctors seem to prefer Medicare to certain private payers. United, for example, is notoriously slow to pay.<br /><br />And I would rather have medicare than Cigna behavioral health, since nobody takes that.EastCoasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-25791287065214246052010-05-13T22:21:28.107-04:002010-05-13T22:21:28.107-04:00Just tell your clients that before they can be you...Just tell your clients that before they can be your patient they need to get in writing from Medicare what the correct fee should be. Put it back on the patient and Medicare.<br /><br />It's ridiculous!Sunny CAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451116932556227816noreply@blogger.com