Mental Health Practice News & Notes
Mona Ruback/CSS
Associated Billing Center, LLC
Exclusively Serving Mental Health Providers
mentalhealthbillers.com
Meeting a Deductible-Clearing up the Confusion
When a family deductible is satisfied, it is not necessary for your patient to have met their individual deductible. This only applies when the family deductible has not been met. When obtaining benefits for our Patient Information Profile Page, we confirm deductible requirements for both the individual and the family.
How Long will CMS allow Telehealth?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed in the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule to extend telehealth flexibilities through 2023 instead of through the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency which is expected to run through this year. Once the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency occurs, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, ensures a 151-day extension period before many of the policies outlined in the COVID-19 public health emergency are set to expire, to allow for a transition period. Reminder: Medicare reimbursement for mental health telehealth services requires an in-person visit within 6 months of initial assessment and once every 12 months following. FYI, the PHE has been in place since January 27, 2020, and renewed throughout the pandemic. The latest HHS extension for the PHE is effective through October 13, 2022.
Maintaining a Profitable Practice
Providers often ask Associated Billing Center how they can improve their revenue cycle and grow their practice. The following suggestions are based on your personal preferences: Expand your telehealth volume. Advertise and market your practice using social media and print where appropriate, even a small box ad in a weekly newspaper can be a call to action. Build an online presence. Seventy-two percent of patients consult the internet when seeking a provider and sixty-two percent read reviews. Submit your practice and your specialties to online directories. Also, when visiting a doctor’s office, resort to the old-fashioned activity of dropping a bunch of cards. We spoke with a therapist recently who educated her physician about her practice and now is consistently getting patient referrals. Renegotiate your payer contracts. Add a cancellation policy with a fee. Consider providing group wellness sessions. If you manage a group practice, diversify the skill sets of your providers. Think like an entrepreneur. Your financial success allows you to perform the work that you love. Helping Others.
Disclaimer: Please note: The editorial content of this page is in no way intended to be professional advice. It should be considered informational and a venue for entertainment purposes. Read and utilize at your own discretion. Content may not be published without the expressed consent of Associated Billing Center, LLC