As an acupuncture insurance billing company we believe in educating acupuncturists. Here are a few frequently asked questions in the last month.
Got more for questions for us?Send them to solutions@holisticbillingservices.com.
When should I update my insurance verifications?
Insurance verification is a critical component of billing insurances for acupuncture. Correct verifications have the most direct correlation with successfully getting claims paid. Patient plans and/or benefits will often change at the start of a new year so it is imperative you request new insurance verifications as soon as the new calendar year starts.
I am in-network for a couple of insurance companies, how often should I re-negotiate my rates?
Managed care contracts are usually written to auto-renew on an annual basis so you will want to analyze your contracts annually. Use the end of the year to calculate your per visit reimbursement for a given contract and compare it to per visit reimbursements for your cash and out-of-network patients. Based on these figures you can determine if the volume of patients seen from a particular payer offsets any variance in reimbursement. Then, negotiate accordingly.
Do you have a list of insurances that will pay for acupuncture that I can use?
Insurance benefits will vary from plan to plan even within the same insurance company so there is no quick shortcut for knowing if the patient’s insurance will cover acupuncture. We recommend that you verify the patient’s benefits before you treat the patient by contacting the payer directly or using an acupuncture billing company to check on your behalf.
Do I have to implement electronic health records in my practice?
No, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will roll-out 1% penalty for Meaningful Use non-compliance starting 2015. However, as acupuncture related treatments are not covered by Medicare these penalties are not applicable to acupuncturists. You are free to implement EHR technology in your practice of your choosing, however, there is no mandate to do so.
Can I/you bill insurances for massage therapy?
Yes, there are insurance plans that will pay for massage treatments performed by a licensed massage therapist or licensed acupuncturist. HBS is an acupuncture billing service that is experienced in billing for both licensed massage therapists and licensed acupuncturists.
Are you interested in learning more about acupuncture billing? Here are some additional tips!
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