Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Graham, In most cases, nowadays people with insurance are members of some type of network, like an HMO (health maintenance organization) or a PPO (preferred provider organization). As a physician, you sign up and agree to certain conditions such as discounting your fees and not balance billing the patient, in order to be a provider for the network. Otherwise, you just won't get those patients. There are very few people any more who have the type of insurance that allows them to freely choose whatever provider they want to use and where as a physician you can set your own fees. The cost for that type of insurance escalated to the point where nobody could afford it. The restricted plans also have escalated to the point where fewer can afford those either, especially if they are self employed with no bargaining power to sign on and negotiate with the insurance company as a member of a large employee group. One exception that has caught on a little bit is the " Medical Savings Account " now called a " Health Savings Account " in which you are allowed tax benefits for putting your health insurance money into a tax deferred expense account, from which you can draw for your medical expenses. As a patient, you are allowed a bit more freedom to spend the money as you see fit and use providers of your own choice under that type of plan. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Graham, > > > > There are some on the listserv who are not billing insurance at all, > > and make the patient responsible for dealing with their insurance co > > as you suggest. Pamela Wible from Eugene, OR is one and there are > > -- > Graham Chiu > http://www.synapsedirect.com > Synapse-EMR - innovative electronic medical records system > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 , Does anyone know which scheme gives the best value for health $? > > > > > > > Graham, > In most cases, nowadays people with insurance are members of some > type of > network, like an HMO (health maintenance organization) or a PPO > (preferred provider organization). As a physician, you sign up and > agree to certain conditions such as discounting your fees and not > balance billing the patient, in order to be a provider for the network. > Otherwise, you just won't get those patients. There are very few > people any more who have the type of insurance that allows them to > freely choose whatever provider they want to use and where as a > physician you can set your own fees. The cost for that type of > insurance escalated to the point where nobody could afford it. The > restricted plans also have escalated to the point where fewer can > afford those either, especially if they are self employed with no > bargaining power to sign on and negotiate with the insurance company > as a member of a large employee group. > One exception that has caught on a little bit is the " Medical Savings > Account " now called a " Health Savings Account " in which you are > allowed tax benefits for putting your health insurance money into a tax > deferred expense account, from which you can draw for your medical > expenses. As a patient, you are allowed a bit more freedom to spend > the money as you see fit and use providers of your own choice under > that type of plan. > -- Graham Chiu http://www.synapsedirect.com Synapse-EMR - innovative electronic medical records system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I lived in North Carolina for a while-Apex North Carolina is in the middle of research triangle park- high tech population that are probably relatively well-off. So you have to figure where this type of office will work. > > Not as long as they are busy counting their millions, Graham.> >> > I would like to tell you what they suffer with but it would notbe polite.> >> > Love> > Jean> > -- > Graham Chiu> http://www.synapsedirect.com> Synapse-EMR - innovative electronic medical records system> > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Watch " Cause Effect, " a show about real people making a real difference. > http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/MTV/?source=text_watchcause > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 NOOOOOOOOOOOO.... PPOs working well again where I am. Are a number of Medicare HMO's that do NOT pay capitation, but discounted fee for service. Maybe I AM lucky where I am????????? Matt in Western PA Re: Musings on EMR Graham,In most cases, nowadays people with insurance are members of some type ofnetwork, like an HMO (health maintenance organization) or a PPO (preferred provider organization). As a physician, you sign up and agree to certain conditions such as discounting your fees and not balance billing the patient, in order to be a provider for the network. Otherwise, you just won't get those patients. There are very few people any more who have the type of insurance that allows them to freely choose whatever provider they want to use and where as a physician you can set your own fees. The cost for that type of insurance escalated to the point where nobody could afford it. The restricted plans also have escalated to the point where fewer can afford those either, especially if they are self employed with no bargaining power to sign on and negotiate with the insurance company as a member of a large employee group. One exception that has caught on a little bit is the "Medical Savings Account" now called a "Health Savings Account" in which you are allowed tax benefits for putting your health insurance money into a tax deferred expense account, from which you can draw for your medical expenses. As a patient, you are allowed a bit more freedom to spend the money as you see fit and use providers of your own choice under that type of plan.> >> >> >> >> >> >> > Graham,> >> > There are some on the listserv who are not billing insurance at all,> > and make the patient responsible for dealing with their insurance co> > as you suggest. Pamela Wible from Eugene, OR is one and there are> > -- > Graham Chiu> http://www.synapsedirect.com> Synapse-EMR - innovative electronic medical records system> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.