RE: Free INR Monitor for Coumadin Clinic?

[Guest guest]

We did a package deal through Medical when we first started doing them a few years ago. The test strips are expensive, and the machine can be finicky (read the instructions!), but we bill a 99211 plus the cost of the test.  We get about $25 for each visit on them.  Totally worth doing so that you keep track of those Coumadin patients.  If we have patients not willing to do the in-house test, we require that their cardiologist manage their Coumadin.  It was beginning to be too much of a liability otherwise.

If you're interested, I can send you our protocol.  It is essentially the same protocol that Steve's big clinic in Oregon was using in their Coumadin clinic.  We give patients a " cheat sheet, " and all patients are dosed in 2.5 mg increments, so the refills are always for 2.5 mg tabs, regardless of the patient, and they follow a schedule (7 pills per week, 22 pills per week, whatever the case may be).  Done by our MA, under Steve's supervision.  Almost all of our Coumadin patients are now on once/month checks and stable.

Pratt

 

Are any companies giving free INR monitor for Coumadin Clinics?Just curious as I may want to start a Coumadin Clinic for our patients.Currently, coumadin patients are drawn in a Hospital extension lab in the office, but labs aren't back until later in the day and sometimes this can delay a report back to a patient.

I know the payments haven't always been great lately, but would be a great convenience for the patient. Locke, MD

[Guest guest]

Henry Schein is running promo Coagucheck with three boxes of test strips for the cost of the strips approx $650 or 48x3 144 strips total approx $4.40 per test.

To: Practice Management Issues ; practiceimprovement1 < > Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 5:48 PMSubject: Free INR Monitor for Coumadin Clinic?

Are any companies giving free INR monitor for Coumadin Clinics?

Just curious as I may want to start a Coumadin Clinic for our patients.

Currently, coumadin patients are drawn in a Hospital extension lab in the office, but labs aren't back until later in the day and sometimes this can delay a report back to a patient.

I know the payments haven't always been great lately, but would be a great convenience for the patient.

Locke, MD

[Guest guest]

We got the same machine and strips from Cardinal. Strips are expensive at about 4.50 a piece. Medicare pays 5.64 for the test (with a QW modifier). We bill a 99213 visit and get paid for that, also. We do a visit, though and ask about side effects and

symptoms and do counseling. Don't forget to have the patient sign a coumadin consent form.

From: [ ] On Behalf Of Pratt [kpratt.1022@...]

Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 4:57 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Free INR Monitor for Coumadin Clinic?

We did a package deal through Medical when we first started doing them a few years ago. The test strips are expensive, and the machine can be finicky (read the instructions!), but we bill a 99211 plus the cost of the test. We get about $25 for each

visit on them. Totally worth doing so that you keep track of those Coumadin patients. If we have patients not willing to do the in-house test, we require that their cardiologist manage their Coumadin. It was beginning to be too much of a liability otherwise.

If you're interested, I can send you our protocol. It is essentially the same protocol that Steve's big clinic in Oregon was using in their Coumadin clinic. We give patients a " cheat sheet, " and all patients are dosed in 2.5 mg increments, so the refills

are always for 2.5 mg tabs, regardless of the patient, and they follow a schedule (7 pills per week, 22 pills per week, whatever the case may be). Done by our MA, under Steve's supervision. Almost all of our Coumadin patients are now on once/month checks

and stable.

Pratt

Are any companies giving free INR monitor for Coumadin Clinics?

Just curious as I may want to start a Coumadin Clinic for our patients.

Currently, coumadin patients are drawn in a Hospital extension lab in the office, but labs aren't back until later in the day and sometimes this can delay a report back to a patient.

I know the payments haven't always been great lately, but would be a great convenience for the patient.

Locke, MD

[Guest guest]

What is a Coumadin consent form? From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Kennedy, JimSent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 8:06 AMTo: Subject: RE: Free INR Monitor for Coumadin Clinic? We got the same machine and strips from Cardinal. Strips are expensive at about 4.50 a piece. Medicare pays 5.64 for the test (with a QW modifier). We bill a 99213 visit and get paid for that, also. We do a visit, though and ask about side effects and symptoms and do counseling. Don't forget to have the patient sign a coumadin consent form. From: [ ] On Behalf Of Pratt [kpratt.1022@...]Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 4:57 PMTo: Subject: Re: Free INR Monitor for Coumadin Clinic? We did a package deal through Medical when we first started doing them a few years ago. The test strips are expensive, and the machine can be finicky (read the instructions!), but we bill a 99211 plus the cost of the test. We get about $25 for each visit on them. Totally worth doing so that you keep track of those Coumadin patients. If we have patients not willing to do the in-house test, we require that their cardiologist manage their Coumadin. It was beginning to be too much of a liability otherwise. If you're interested, I can send you our protocol. It is essentially the same protocol that Steve's big clinic in Oregon was using in their Coumadin clinic. We give patients a " cheat sheet, " and all patients are dosed in 2.5 mg increments, so the refills are always for 2.5 mg tabs, regardless of the patient, and they follow a schedule (7 pills per week, 22 pills per week, whatever the case may be). Done by our MA, under Steve's supervision. Almost all of our Coumadin patients are now on once/month checks and stable. Pratt Are any companies giving free INR monitor for Coumadin Clinics? Just curious as I may want to start a Coumadin Clinic for our patients. Currently, coumadin patients are drawn in a Hospital extension lab in the office, but labs aren't back until later in the day and sometimes this can delay a report back to a patient. I know the payments haven't always been great lately, but would be a great convenience for the patient. Locke, MD

[Guest guest]

It is similar to a narcotics conset form. Our malpractice carrier requires that all patients on coumadin have a signed form in the chart.

From: [ ] On Behalf Of H. Kim [paulhkimmd@...]

Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 9:52 AM

To:

Subject: RE: Free INR Monitor for Coumadin Clinic?

What is a Coumadin consent form?

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of Kennedy, Jim

Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 8:06 AM

To:

Subject: RE: Free INR Monitor for Coumadin Clinic?

We got the same machine and strips from Cardinal. Strips are expensive at about 4.50 a piece. Medicare pays 5.64 for the test (with a QW modifier). We bill a 99213 visit and get paid for that,

also. We do a visit, though and ask about side effects and symptoms and do counseling. Don't forget to have the patient sign a coumadin consent form.

From:

[ ] On Behalf Of Pratt [kpratt.1022@...]

Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 4:57 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Free INR Monitor for Coumadin Clinic?

We did a package deal through Medical when we first started doing them a few years ago. The test strips are expensive, and the machine can be finicky (read the instructions!), but we bill

a 99211 plus the cost of the test. We get about $25 for each visit on them. Totally worth doing so that you keep track of those Coumadin patients. If we have patients not willing to do the in-house test, we require that their cardiologist manage their Coumadin.

It was beginning to be too much of a liability otherwise.

If you're interested, I can send you our protocol. It is essentially the same protocol that Steve's big clinic in Oregon was using in their Coumadin clinic. We give patients a " cheat sheet, "

and all patients are dosed in 2.5 mg increments, so the refills are always for 2.5 mg tabs, regardless of the patient, and they follow a schedule (7 pills per week, 22 pills per week, whatever the case may be). Done by our MA, under Steve's supervision. Almost

all of our Coumadin patients are now on once/month checks and stable.

Pratt

Are any companies giving free INR monitor for Coumadin Clinics?

Just curious as I may want to start a Coumadin Clinic for our patients.

Currently, coumadin patients are drawn in a Hospital extension lab in the office, but labs aren't back until later in the day and sometimes this can delay a report back to a patient.

I know the payments haven't always been great lately, but would be a great convenience for the patient.

Locke, MD