Guest guest Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 Just a reminder that files can be uploaded at PTManagerBLOG.com where everyone can get them. Kovacek > > > Hi all > > Since 1995, we have worked with attorney liens from day 1. > > At first, we implemented a $10 copay for their visits. This was not very successful. Most of the patients felt that the accident wasn't their fault and they shouldn't have to pay, however we did have some who would pay it and those folks proved to all be honest and hardworking folks that we ultimately collected on their settled case from. > > We stopped that policy not too long later. We then were given a copy of a lien from a local chiropractor that we still use it's foundation to this day. The language discusses that our lien shall not be subject to the settlement, shall not be placed on a bankruptcy proceeding, and that we will be charging 18% APR interest after 90 days on the balance. The patient has a signature line and then there is a blurb at the bottom that basically has some CA legal code listed talking about the attorney needs to abide by the patient's aforementioned request or be subject to punitive measures themselves. > > Over the years, we have had some attorneys say they won't sign it, but most do. That tells us up front that we need to watch the case like a hawk as the attorney isn't interested in endorsing their clients request. It doesn't mean they won't pay us, it just means that they are keeping their options open. > > We have come up with a system of printing case balances and faxing them every other month to attorneys to a. make sure they are aware of the balance and that it goes up every month due to the interest and b. we request the status of the case (open, closed, transferred, etc.) so we can know what's going on. All too often we have that form ignored for a few cycles and we call the attorney office and run down the list verbally with them asking the status on each case. > > A nice thing about the finance charges is that when it comes time to settle, I rarely have a problem cutting the bill because if they want a reduction, many times I'll just waive the interest. Over this many years, we have developed good relationships with several attorneys and the docs that work with them and we get their clients that have med pay policies too and those pay 100% of billed charged. Have we been burned over the years on this? Of course. In those cases, we send the case to collections after trying to get the client to pay and we then note what attorney was involved and the circumstances. Sometimes it turns out to be the case didn't go their way, other times they " missed " our lien, and other times the client says they want all the money and they'll pay providers directly and never do. But those are few and far between, we usually get our money. It's been nice in the slow months to have checks coming in from 2-3 years ago to get us through the slower periods. > > PTA Sac Spine & PT > (Email is not the best method for conveying messages exactly and I apologize in advance for its at times impersonal nature.) > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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