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Ask COPM about implications of healthcare reform:

We have information on the International Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). COPM recently completed the CARF BH Introduction & Standards Training. We remain current on all standards and requirements.

Also, ask COPM about:

ICD-10 will be here before you know it. We have important software considerations for your practice.

COPM is again conducting a seminar on starting your own private practice by the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. We will be addressing our favorite group of providers - behaviorial health providers.

Collections: To Send or Not to Send?

Here are some things to consider before sending any of your accounts to collections.

You must consider why the account isn't paid, and you must understand when you are legally and ethically bound to write something off.

Here are 4 reasons you can bill the patient -

1. The service is NOT covered by the patient's insurance carrier.
2. The patient was not eligible for coverage on the date of service.
3. The allowed amount for the services was applied to the patient's deductible, therefore the patient's responsibility
4. The balance is the patient's co-pay.

It is recommended that the above situations be addressed in your practice's financial policy.

Here are 3 reasons you MUST NOT bill the patient -

1. The service was denied as not medically necessary.
2. The services were denied for no authorization.
3. The services were denied for timely filing.

Typically, the 3 reasons noted above are legal reasons why you must not bill the patient. If in doubt, contact the insurance company to verify whether or not the patient can be billed.

If the patient balance falls under a reason you can bill the patient, you must take the following additional scenarios into consideration -

1. How old is the debt?
2. Why haven't they paid?
3. Was there neglect on the provider's part to collect the patient's responsibility?

But remember, just because you can doesn't mean you should. And providers must be aware of state laws governing collections.

Central Ohio Practice Management (COPM) has been in business for over 10 years and for the past couple of years our focus has been on behavioral health billing and practice management. We have found that behavioral health providers are a neglected demographic within healthcare providers. We finally got the proof we needed at the seminar. The providers were craving information on starting their own practice, credentialing, getting started, forms, software, etc...

We do medical billing as well as mental health billing and we have found that behavioral health providers must jump through more hoops to get claims paid than a doctor. Especially with the rampant use of Employee Assistance Programs/EAPs. There is more paper work, authorizations, documentation and timely issues than a doctor has to endure. Yet, they get paid less and are limited to a certain number of visits.

COPM can show you how to organize your practice so you can optimize your time. We can introduce innovative ways to schedule and manage your appointments.