House calls

[Guest guest]

On the other end of the spectrum, here is an example of how different medical reimbursements can be. I lucked into a situation 2 years ago where an overseas health management company calls me about once every 2 months to make a house call whenever one of their client's employees get sick. They found my name on the Internet as someone who does house calls. The employees are flight attendants who stay overnight in a local hotel, but may develop ear infections, UTIs, back pain, etc. Always straightforward problems. I go to their hotel for a house call and typically spend 15-20 minutes there, call in a prescription if needed, and for this I have been charging $200 for up to a 30 minute visit. It is paid by the health management company without any discount or negotiation. It seems crazy how easy this is, compared to what I used to get from Medicare for house calls. On top of this, I have looked around the Internet and I think I am undercharging as I have seen hotel house call doctors post prices of $300-400 or more for a visit. There aren't enough of these visits for me to abandon my office practice, but it is refreshing to just get paid the amount I ask for my services. I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad with this story. I'm just pointing out how crazy out of touch our third party health care system is with its "negotiated rates" and middlemen, compared to a truly competitive free market system where we are allowed to set our own fees, and get paid what we actually charge. Unfortunately, out of reach for most of us. SetoSouth Pasadena, CAHouse calls for 1 hour visit pays between 79 and 119. I just had Medicare pre-audit my notes and down code every house call - 7 so are and 5 not yet received back. I have 10 home care patients. Do only if you have to. I am appealing.To: " " < > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 9:34 AMSubject: Re: Re: Doctors going out of business Have you considered doing house calls? If your schedule is not full, could you take 1-2 days per month to go to your patients that can't get to you? Or close early one day/week? Obviously doesn't help the pt with the Picc line (no home health nurses?), but could help your other patients. Steve does a few for non-ambulatory pts. We do not advertise it, and the pt has to be established and Steve offers if he sees it is a difficult situation. He does them at lunch or at the end of the day - about 1-2 visits per month. They do pay better than an office visit. Just a though.... Pratt