Re: help naming service and motivation

[Guest guest]

Hi Tim,

We were going to launch something like

this when we started the practice here and never have gotten around to it. I

would come up with a name for your program and then have different levels of “membership.”

Be careful, though, if you have insurance contracts. The patients with the

high deductibles will need to pay the insurance-contracted amount. I would

leave this type of program for uninsured only (unless you don’t have any

insurance contracts or participate with Medicare – then you don’t

have Big Brother looking over your shoulder and don’t need to really

worry about it). IMO, fee schedules should be the same across the board for

all patients, so we charge all patients the same. However, that said, we do give

a “prompt-pay discount” to the uninsured who pay at the time of

service. Last week I actually had a patient say “that’s all?”

Patients have such a skewed view of what health care actually costs…

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine P.C

Roy Medical Associates, Inc.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Malia, MD

Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009

8:39 AM

To:

Subject:

help naming service and motivation

I'm about

to launch an outreach effort to my community about services for uninsured and

high-deductible folks. I wonder if you can offer help in naming the

services.

Basically, following the lead of previous discussions, I plan to offer folks

two options: one with a discount for payment of time of service (P.A.T.O.S.) of

$70 simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more complex appt like 99214; the other

with a base charge (likely $240/yr) for " extra services " (access with

email, 24/7 coverage, online scheduling, etc) with a low charge for appts

($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75 other appts depending on simple like 99213 or

complex like 99214 appts). This allow patients options to be able to budget for

primary care while I earn the " coveted " $1/day if a patient has 3-6

appts/yr ... and even with just 1-3 appts for most folks would earn the same

average income I get from my insured patients. I'm feeling it's a fair

balance but would be willing to hear back from you if you think I'm off-my-rocker.

What can I call these options as I promote them?

I was considering " P.A.T.O.S (Pay At Time Of Service) " and

" Member " but I don't love either of those, especially the second.

My final motivation to move forward with this was my mall merchants association

meeting the other day and talking to the other business owners here (my office

is in the back corner of a small community mall). I want a brochure and

letter ready to go by the end of this weekend. I'll start with the

businesses here, then start spreading the word in 1/4 mile increments (I have a

ton of potential in the very near area).

Any help with this is appreciated.

I'm having an IMP surge in innovation currently (happens every few

months....?mania/hypomania ;-) and have recently realized that " I'm

an entrepreneur but have not been acting entrepreneurial enough " !!

I'm updating websites, business cards and thinking of free/low-cost marketing.

I'm approaching 3 yrs as an IMP and I want 2009 to be the year when I surpass

financial goals and finally " hit the groove " I'm envisioning all

while giving great medical care and possibly offering great value for care to

patients who are feeling the pinch of the difficult economy. It can be

win-win-win!

Tim

----------------------------------------

Malia, MD

Malia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser

6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.

Perinton Square Mall

Fairport, NY

14450

(phone / fax)

www.relayhealth.com/doc/DrMalia

www.SkinSenseLaser.com

-- Confidentiality Notice --

This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of the

intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information. Unauthorized use

or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not

use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the

intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and

destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.

----------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks. That's helpful.Can other folks verify about the high-deductible

patients? If someone has a high-deductible insurance through a company I'm

contracted with, can I offer them these options? Now that you mention

that, I'm realizing I think it's true that I can't and would still do the regular

billing process for them.So, this service may be just for uninsured

patients. Any thoughts on names? What are other offices calling these sorts of

arrangements?TimOn Thu,

January 8, 2009 12:41 pm EST, Pratt wrote:

Hi Tim,

We were going to launch something likethis when we started the practice here and never have gotten around to it. Iwould come up with a name for your program and then have different levels of

“membership.” Be careful, though, if you have insurance contracts.

The patients with thehigh deductibles will need to pay the

insurance-contracted amount. I wouldleave this type of program for uninsured

only (unless you don’t have anyinsurance contracts or participate with

Medicare – then you don’thave Big Brother looking over your

shoulder and don’t need to reallyworry about it). IMO, fee schedules

should be the same across the board forall patients, so we charge all patients

the same. However, that said, we do givea “prompt-pay discount”

to the uninsured who pay at the time ofservice. Last week I actually had a

patient say “that’s all?” Patients have such a skewed view

of what health care actually costs…

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine

P.C

Roy Medical Associates, Inc.

From:

[mailto: ]

On Behalf Of Malia,

MDSent: Thursday,

January 08, 20098:39 AMTo: Subject: help

naming service and motivation

I'm aboutto launch an outreach effort to my community about services for uninsured andhigh-deductible folks. I wonder if you can offer help in naming theservices.Basically, following the lead of previous discussions, I plan

to offer folkstwo options: one with a discount for payment of time of service

(P.A.T.O.S.) of$70 simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more complex appt like

99214; the otherwith a base charge (likely $240/yr) for " extra

services " (access withemail, 24/7 coverage, online scheduling, etc) with

a low charge for appts($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75 other appts depending

on simple like 99213 orcomplex like 99214 appts). This allow patients options

to be able to budget forprimary care while I earn the " coveted "

$1/day if a patient has 3-6appts/yr ... and even with just 1-3 appts for most

folks would earn the sameaverage income I get from my insured patients. I'm

feeling it's a fairbalance but would be willing to hear back from you if you

think I'm off-my-rocker.What can I call these options as I promote

them?I was considering " P.A.T.O.S (Pay At Time Of Service) " and " Member " but I don't love either of those, especially the

second.My final motivation to move forward with this was my mall

merchants associationmeeting the other day and talking to the other business

owners here (my officeis in the back corner of a small community mall). I

want a brochure andletter ready to go by the end of this weekend. I'll start

with thebusinesses here, then start spreading the word in 1/4 mile increments

(I have aton of potential in the very near area).Any help with

this is appreciated.I'm having an IMP surge in innovation currently

(happens every fewmonths....?mania/hypomania ;-) and have recently

realized that " I'man entrepreneur but have not been acting

entrepreneurial enough " !! I'm updating websites, business cards and

thinking of free/low-cost marketing.I'm approaching 3 yrs as an IMP and

I want 2009 to be the year when I surpassfinancial goals and finally " hit

the groove " I'm envisioning allwhile giving great medical care and

possibly offering great value for care topatients who are feeling the pinch of

the difficult economy. It can bewin-win-win!Tim---------------------------------------- Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY

14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth.com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser.com-- Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of theintended recipient(s) and contains confidential information. Unauthorized useor disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may notuse, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not theintended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email anddestroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.----------------------------------------

---------------------------------------- Malia, MDMalia

Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton

Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth.com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser.com--

Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is

for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information.

Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient,

you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the

intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and destroy

all copies of the original message, including attachments.----------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Tim:

I've considered much the same but keep getting blocked my our state auditor/insurance commissioner.

For possible names- do you want two separate names for the two levels or one primary name for the overall service? Such as... Access Care (level 1 and level 2); Care Access; Health Solutions Plan (my practice is called Health Solutions but its been suggested that it sounds like a pharmacy IV program); AccessHealth; SimpleCare (already used by a national program but likely still available for you locally); SimpleAccess; SimpleHealth (that sounds odd to me at first); Just realized you could play up the IMP in Simple.... thats all I can think of for now.

Carla Gibson

Subject: help naming service and motivationTo: Date: Thursday, January 8, 2009, 9:38 AM

I'm about to launch an outreach effort to my community about services for uninsured and high-deductible folks. I wonder if you can offer help in naming the services.Basically, following the lead of previous discussions, I plan to offer folks two options: one with a discount for payment of time of service (P.A.T.O.S.) of $70 simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more complex appt like 99214; the other with a base charge (likely $240/yr) for "extra services" (access with email, 24/7 coverage, online scheduling, etc) with a low charge for appts ($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75 other appts depending on simple like 99213 or complex like 99214 appts). This allow patients options to be able to budget for primary care while I earn the "coveted" $1/day if a patient has 3-6 appts/yr ... and even with just 1-3 appts for most folks would earn the same average income I get from my insured patients. I'm feeling it's a fair balance but would be

willing to hear back from you if you think I'm off-my-rocker.What can I call these options as I promote them?I was considering "P.A.T.O.S (Pay At Time Of Service)" and "Member" but I don't love either of those, especially the second.My final motivation to move forward with this was my mall merchants association meeting the other day and talking to the other business owners here (my office is in the back corner of a small community mall). I want a brochure and letter ready to go by the end of this weekend. I'll start with the businesses here, then start spreading the word in 1/4 mile increments (I have a ton of potential in the very near area).Any help with this is appreciated.I'm having an IMP surge in innovation currently (happens every few months....?mania/ hypomania ;-) and have recently realized that "I'm an entrepreneur but have not been acting entrepreneurial enough"!! I'm updating

websites, business cards and thinking of free/low-cost marketing.I'm approaching 3 yrs as an IMP and I want 2009 to be the year when I surpass financial goals and finally "hit the groove" I'm envisioning all while giving great medical care and possibly offering great value for care to patients who are feeling the pinch of the difficult economy. It can be win-win-win!Tim------------ --------- --------- --------- - Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth. com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser. com-- Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information. Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use,

disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.------------ --------- --------- --------- -

[Guest guest]

I spoke with my regional BCBS fraud manager re: whether I can charge a lower fee to uninsured... he saw no problem other than the expectation that the fee billed to insurance should be reasonable in relation to the fee for the uninsured... meaning you are not gouging the insurance company and only discounting to account for the lower amount of work involved.. I also asked about patients who wanted the cash discount then wanted to send their own claim to their insurance under their high deductible plans. Most of the time, the patient swears they have no insurance but after they pay, they want a claim form. I was told that I cannot force someone to use their insurance and thus, can charge the lower fee. But it becomes quite gray if the patient turns around and sends the claim to the insurance. So, I have a talk

with the patient and if they want the cash discount, I will give it to them but I don't give them enough info on a receipt to send as a claim to insurance.

Carla Gibson

Hi Tim,

We were going to launch something likethis when we started the practice here and never have gotten around to it. Iwould come up with a name for your program and then have different levels of “membership.” Be careful, though, if you have insurance contracts. The patients with thehigh deductibles will need to pay the insurance-contracte d amount. I wouldleave this type of program for uninsured only (unless you don’t have anyinsurance contracts or participate with Medicare – then you don’thave Big Brother looking over your shoulder and don’t need to reallyworry about it). IMO, fee schedules should be the same across the board forall patients, so we charge all patients the same. However, that said, we do givea “prompt-pay discount” to the uninsured who pay at the time ofservice. Last week I actually

had a patient say “that’s all?” Patients have such a skewed view of what health care actually costs…

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine P.C

Roy Medical Associates, Inc.

From: Practiceimprovement 1yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:Practiceimp rovement1@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Malia, MDSent: Thursday, January 08, 20098:39 AMTo: Practiceimprovement 1yahoogroups (DOT) comSubject: [Practiceimprovemen t1]help naming service and motivation

I'm aboutto launch an outreach effort to my community about services for uninsured andhigh-deductible folks. I wonder if you can offer help in naming theservices.Basically, following the lead of previous discussions, I plan to offer folkstwo options: one with a discount for payment of time of service (P.A.T.O.S.) of$70 simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more complex appt like 99214; the otherwith a base charge (likely $240/yr) for "extra services" (access withemail, 24/7 coverage, online scheduling, etc) with a low charge for appts($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75 other appts depending on simple like 99213 orcomplex like 99214 appts). This allow patients options to be able to budget forprimary care while I earn the "coveted" $1/day if a patient has 3-6appts/yr ... and even with just 1-3 appts for most folks would earn the

sameaverage income I get from my insured patients. I'm feeling it's a fairbalance but would be willing to hear back from you if you think I'm off-my-rocker.What can I call these options as I promote them?I was considering "P.A.T.O.S (Pay At Time Of Service)" and"Member" but I don't love either of those, especially the second.My final motivation to move forward with this was my mall merchants associationmeeting the other day and talking to the other business owners here (my officeis in the back corner of a small community mall). I want a brochure andletter ready to go by the end of this weekend. I'll start with thebusinesses here, then start spreading the word in 1/4 mile increments (I have aton of potential in the very near area).Any help with this is appreciated.I'm having an IMP surge in innovation currently (happens every fewmonths....?mania/ hypomania ;-) and have recently

realized that "I'man entrepreneur but have not been acting entrepreneurial enough"!! I'm updating websites, business cards and thinking of free/low-cost marketing.I'm approaching 3 yrs as an IMP and I want 2009 to be the year when I surpassfinancial goals and finally "hit the groove" I'm envisioning allwhile giving great medical care and possibly offering great value for care topatients who are feeling the pinch of the difficult economy. It can bewin-win-win!Tim------------ --------- --------- --------- - Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth. com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser. com-- Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of theintended recipient(s) and contains

confidential information. Unauthorized useor disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may notuse, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not theintended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email anddestroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.------------ --------- --------- --------- -

------------ --------- --------- --------- - Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth. com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser. com-- Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information. Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.------------ --------- --------- --------- -

[Guest guest]

Tim,What do you think about calling the payment at the time of service concept the Working Family Plan or the Small Business Discount Plan or the HSA Discount Plan depending on who you're marketing to?For the fee based care:  The Monthly membership planThe Annual Membership Plan24/7 Access and Email PlanThe Platinum Care PlanThe Corporate Membership PlanBen Brewer M.D.To: Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:38:49 AMSubject: help naming service and motivation

I'm about to launch an outreach effort to my community about services for uninsured

and high-deductible folks.  I wonder if you can offer help in naming the

services.Basically, following the lead of previous discussions, I plan

to offer folks two options: one with a discount for payment of time of service

(P.A.T.O.S.) of $70 simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more complex appt like

99214; the other with a base charge (likely $240/yr) for "extra services"

(access with email, 24/7 coverage, online scheduling, etc) with a low charge for

appts ($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75 other appts depending on simple like 99213

or complex like 99214 appts). This allow patients options to be able to budget for

primary care while I earn the "coveted" $1/day if a patient has 3-6

appts/yr ... and even with just 1-3 appts for most folks would earn the same average

income I get from my insured patients.  I'm feeling it's a fair balance but

would be willing to hear back from you if you think I'm off-my-rocker.What can I call these options as I promote them?I was considering

"P.A.T.O.S (Pay At Time Of Service)"  and "Member" but I

don't love either of those, especially the second.My final motivation to

move forward with this was my mall merchants association meeting the other day and

talking to the other business owners here (my office is in the back corner of a

small community mall).  I want a brochure and letter ready to go by the end of

this weekend.  I'll start with the businesses here, then start spreading the

word in 1/4 mile increments (I have a ton of potential in the very near area).Any help with this is appreciated.I'm having an IMP surge in

innovation currently (happens every few months....?mania/ hypomania ;-) and have

recently realized that "I'm an entrepreneur but have not been acting

entrepreneurial enough"!!  I'm updating websites, business cards and

thinking of free/low-cost marketing.I'm approaching 3 yrs as an IMP and

I want 2009 to be the year when I surpass financial goals and finally "hit the

groove" I'm envisioning all while giving great medical care and possibly

offering great value for care to patients who are feeling the pinch of the difficult

economy. It can be win-win-win!Tim------------ --------- --------- --------- - Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone /

fax)www.relayhealth. com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser. com--

Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is

for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information.

Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient,

you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the

intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and destroy

all copies of the original message, including attachments.------------ --------- --------- --------- -

[Guest guest]

Thanks. But, please, explain what was the problem that led them to " block

you " in the effort?Is it that the pricing is suppose to be the same

for the services provided? That is, an appt charge is an appt charge and you can

only cut the price so much for specific reason (portion off for payment at time of

service for example)?Are other folks who have insurance contracts doing

anything like these varied prices for the uninsured?TimOn Thu, January 8, 2009 9:42 pm EST, Carla Gibson

wrote:

Tim:

I've considered much the same but keep getting blocked my our state

auditor/insurance commissioner.

For possible names- do you want two separate names for the two

levels or one primary name for the overall service? Such as... Access

Care (level 1 and level 2); Care Access; Health Solutions Plan (my

practice is called Health Solutions but its been suggested that it

sounds like a pharmacy IV program); AccessHealth; SimpleCare (already

used by a national program but likely still available for you locally); SimpleAccess; SimpleHealth (that sounds odd to me at first); Just

realized you could play up the IMP in Simple.... thats all I can think

of for now.

Carla Gibson

From: Malia, MD Subject: help naming service and motivationTo: Date: Thursday, January

8, 2009, 9:38 AM

I'm about to launch an outreach effort to my community about

services for uninsured and high-deductible folks. I wonder if you can

offer help in naming the services.Basically, following the

lead of previous discussions, I plan to offer folks two options: one

with a discount for payment of time of service (P.A.T.O.S.) of $70

simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more complex appt like 99214; the

other with a base charge (likely $240/yr) for " extra services "

(access with email, 24/7 coverage, online scheduling, etc) with a low

charge for appts ($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75 other appts depending

on simple like 99213 or complex like 99214 appts). This allow patients

options to be able to budget for primary care while I earn the

" coveted " $1/day if a patient has 3-6 appts/yr ... and even

with just 1-3 appts for most folks would earn the same average income I

get from my insured patients. I'm feeling it's a fair balance but would

be willing to hear back from you if you think I'm

off-my-rocker.What can I call these options as I promote

them?I was considering " P.A.T.O.S (Pay At Time Of

Service) " and " Member " but I don't love either of those,

especially the second.My final motivation to move forward

with this was my mall merchants association meeting the other day and

talking to the other business owners here (my office is in the back

corner of a small community mall). I want a brochure and letter ready

to go by the end of this weekend. I'll start with the businesses here,

then start spreading the word in 1/4 mile increments (I have a ton of

potential in the very near area).Any help with this is

appreciated.I'm having an IMP surge in innovation currently

(happens every few months....?mania/ hypomania ;-) and have recently

realized that " I'm an entrepreneur but have not been acting

entrepreneurial enough " !! I'm updating websites, business

cards and thinking of free/low-cost marketing.I'm

approaching 3 yrs as an IMP and I want 2009 to be the year when I

surpass financial goals and finally " hit the groove " I'm

envisioning all while giving great medical care and possibly offering

great value for care to patients who are feeling the pinch of the

difficult economy. It can be win-win-win!Tim------------ --------- --------- --------- - Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720

Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY

14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth.

com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser. com--

Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the

attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and

contains confidential information. Unauthorized use or disclosure is

prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the

intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email

and destroy all copies of the original message, including

attachments.------------ --------- --------- --------- -

---------------------------------------- Malia, MDMalia

Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton

Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth.com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser.com--

Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is

for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information.

Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient,

you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the

intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and destroy

all copies of the original message, including attachments.----------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Boy, you folks are good with this naming business. Lots of good ideas.I'll

think these things out, but do need to consider the charges issue as mentioned in

the other email.TimOn Thu,

January 8, 2009 11:53 pm EST, Ben Brewer wrote:

Tim,

What do you think about calling the payment at the time of service concept the

Working Family Plan or the Small Business Discount Plan or the HSA Discount Plan

depending on who you're marketing to?

For the fee based care:

The Monthly membership plan

The Annual Membership Plan

24/7 Access and Email Plan

The Platinum Care Plan

The Corporate Membership Plan

Ben Brewer M.D.

From: " Malia, MD " To:

Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:38:49 AMSubject:

help naming service and motivation

I'm about to launch an outreach effort to my community about services for

uninsuredand high-deductible folks. I wonder if you can offer help in

naming theservices.Basically, following the lead of previous

discussions, I planto offer folks two options: one with a discount for payment

of time of service(P.A.T.O.S.) of $70 simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more

complex appt like99214; the other with a base charge (likely $240/yr) for

" extra services " (access with email, 24/7 coverage, online

scheduling, etc) with a low charge forappts ($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75

other appts depending on simple like 99213or complex like 99214 appts). This

allow patients options to be able to budget forprimary care while I earn the

" coveted " $1/day if a patient has 3-6appts/yr ... and even with just

1-3 appts for most folks would earn the same averageincome I get from my

insured patients. I'm feeling it's a fair balance butwould be willing to

hear back from you if you think I'm off-my-rocker.What can I call these

options as I promote them?I was considering " P.A.T.O.S (Pay At

Time Of Service) " and " Member " but Idon't love either of

those, especially the second.My final motivation tomove forward

with this was my mall merchants association meeting the other day andtalking

to the other business owners here (my office is in the back corner of asmall

community mall). I want a brochure and letter ready to go by the end ofthis weekend. I'll start with the businesses here, then start spreading

theword in 1/4 mile increments (I have a ton of potential in the very near

area).Any help with this is appreciated.I'm having an IMP

surge ininnovation currently (happens every few months....?mania/ hypomania

;-) and haverecently realized that " I'm an entrepreneur but have not been

actingentrepreneurial enough " !! I'm updating websites, business

cards andthinking of free/low-cost marketing.I'm approaching 3 yrs

as an IMP andI want 2009 to be the year when I surpass financial goals and

finally " hit thegroove " I'm envisioning all while giving great

medical care and possiblyoffering great value for care to patients who are

feeling the pinch of the difficulteconomy. It can be win-win-win!Tim------------ --------- --------- --------- - Malia,

MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720

Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone /fax)www.relayhealth. com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser. com--Confidentiality Notice --This

email message, including all the attachments, isfor the sole use of the

intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information.Unauthorized use

or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient,you may not

use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not theintended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and

destroyall copies of the original message, including attachments.------------ --------- --------- --------- -

---------------------------------------- Malia, MDMalia

Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton

Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth.com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser.com--

Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is

for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information.

Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient,

you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the

intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and destroy

all copies of the original message, including attachments.----------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Tim,

I never really liked the concierge term.I basically use

Membership, sometimes Subscription. People seem to like being “members,” what

rubs you the wrong way about that?

Including a newsletter, email and phone access, forms, maybe a

healthy eating class or such, seems to help promote the value.

Sharon

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Malia, MD

Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:25 PM

To: brewermd98@...; practiceimprovement1

Subject: Re: help naming service and motivation

Boy, you folks are good with this naming

business. Lots of good ideas.

I'll think these things out, but do need to consider the charges issue as

mentioned in the other email.

Tim

Tim,

What

do you think about calling the payment at the time of service concept the

Working Family Plan or the Small Business Discount Plan or the HSA Discount

Plan depending on who you're marketing to?

For

the fee based care:

The

Monthly membership plan

The

Annual Membership Plan

24/7

Access and Email Plan

The

Platinum Care Plan

The

Corporate Membership Plan

Ben

Brewer M.D.

From: "

Malia, MD "

To:

Sent:

Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:38:49 AM

Subject:

help naming service and motivation

I'm about to launch an outreach effort to my community about services for

uninsured

and high-deductible folks. I wonder if you can offer help in naming the

services.

Basically, following the lead of previous discussions, I plan

to offer folks two options: one with a discount for payment of time of service

(P.A.T.O.S.) of $70 simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more complex appt like

99214; the other with a base charge (likely $240/yr) for " extra

services "

(access with email, 24/7 coverage, online scheduling, etc) with a low charge

for

appts ($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75 other appts depending on simple like

99213

or complex like 99214 appts). This allow patients options to be able to budget

for

primary care while I earn the " coveted " $1/day if a patient has 3-6

appts/yr ... and even with just 1-3 appts for most folks would earn the same

average

income I get from my insured patients. I'm feeling it's a fair balance

but

would be willing to hear back from you if you think I'm off-my-rocker.

What can I call these options as I promote them?

I was considering

" P.A.T.O.S (Pay At Time Of Service) " and " Member " but

I

don't love either of those, especially the second.

My final motivation to

move forward with this was my mall merchants association meeting the other day

and

talking to the other business owners here (my office is in the back corner of a

small community mall). I want a brochure and letter ready to go by the

end of

this weekend. I'll start with the businesses here, then start spreading

the

word in 1/4 mile increments (I have a ton of potential in the very near area).

Any help with this is appreciated.

I'm having an IMP surge in

innovation currently (happens every few months....?mania/ hypomania ;-) and

have

recently realized that " I'm an entrepreneur but have not been acting

entrepreneurial enough " !! I'm updating websites, business cards and

thinking of free/low-cost marketing.

I'm approaching 3 yrs as an IMP and

I want 2009 to be the year when I surpass financial goals and finally " hit

the

groove " I'm envisioning all while giving great medical care and possibly

offering great value for care to patients who are feeling the pinch of the

difficult

economy. It can be win-win-win!

Tim

------------ --------- --------- --------- -

Malia, MD

Malia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser

6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.

Perinton Square Mall

Fairport, NY 14450

(phone /

fax)

www.relayhealth. com/doc/DrMalia

www.SkinSenseLaser. com

--

Confidentiality Notice --

This email message, including all the attachments, is

for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential

information.

Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended

recipient,

you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not

the

intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and

destroy

all copies of the original message, including attachments.

------------ --------- --------- --------- -

----------------------------------------

Malia, MD

Malia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser

6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.

Perinton Square Mall

Fairport, NY 14450

(phone / fax)

www.relayhealth.com/doc/DrMalia

www.SkinSenseLaser.com

-- Confidentiality Notice --

This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of the

intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information. Unauthorized use

or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not

use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the

intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and

destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.

----------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Carla, I may not understand your concerns; but, I don't think I would worry about this for several reasons. First, I wouldn't work against my patients but for them; let the insurance companies take care of themselves. Second, the insurance company is probably only going to reimburse a percentage of your actual charges, not a percentage of their maximum allowable charge to the patient. Third, the patient did pay you cash at the time of service fairly earning the discount by lowering your billing costs and AR. Finally, if the patient has a high deductible, they need to file your bill and the amount they paid to have it count towards their deductible so they can start getting reimbursed if they exceed it. Straz I spoke with my regional BCBS fraud manager re: whether I can charge a lower fee to uninsured... he saw no problem other than the expectation that the fee billed to insurance should be reasonable in relation to the fee for the uninsured... meaning you are not gouging the insurance company and only discounting to account for the lower amount of work involved.. I also asked about patients who wanted the cash discount then wanted to send their own claim to their insurance under their high deductible plans. Most of the time, the patient swears they have no insurance but after they pay, they want a claim form. I was told that I cannot force someone to use their insurance and thus, can charge the lower fee. But it becomes quite gray if the patient turns around and sends the claim to the insurance. So, I have a talk with the patient and if they want the cash discount, I will give it to them but I don't give them enough info on a receipt to send as a claim to insurance. Carla GibsonHi Tim,We were going to launch something likethis when we started the practice here and never have gotten around to it. Iwould come up with a name for your program and then have different levels of “membership.” Be careful, though, if you have insurance contracts. The patients with thehigh deductibles will need to pay the insurance-contracte d amount. I wouldleave this type of program for uninsured only (unless you don’t have anyinsurance contracts or participate with Medicare – then you don’thave Big Brother looking over your shoulder and don’t need to reallyworry about it). IMO, fee schedules should be the same across the board forall patients, so we charge all patients the same. However, that said, we do givea “prompt-pay discount” to the uninsured who pay at the time ofservice. Last week I actually had a patient say “that’s all?” Patients have such a skewed view of what health care actually costs… PrattOffice ManagerOak Tree Internal Medicine P.CRoy Medical Associates, Inc.From: Practiceimprovement 1yahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto:@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Malia, MDSent: Thursday, January 08, 20098:39 AMTo: Practiceimprovement 1yahoogroups (DOT) comSubject: [Practiceimprovemen t1]help naming service and motivationI'm aboutto launch an outreach effort to my community about services for uninsured andhigh-deductible folks. I wonder if you can offer help in naming theservices.Basically, following the lead of previous discussions, I plan to offer folkstwo options: one with a discount for payment of time of service (P.A.T.O.S.) of$70 simple appt like 99213 and $100 for more complex appt like 99214; the otherwith a base charge (likely $240/yr) for "extra services" (access withemail, 24/7 coverage, online scheduling, etc) with a low charge for appts($25/40 for first 6 appts, $40/75 other appts depending on simple like 99213 orcomplex like 99214 appts). This allow patients options to be able to budget forprimary care while I earn the "coveted" $1/day if a patient has 3-6appts/yr ... and even with just 1-3 appts for most folks would earn the sameaverage income I get from my insured patients. I'm feeling it's a fairbalance but would be willing to hear back from you if you think I'm off-my-rocker.What can I call these options as I promote them?I was considering "P.A.T.O.S (Pay At Time Of Service)" and"Member" but I don't love either of those, especially the second.My final motivation to move forward with this was my mall merchants associationmeeting the other day and talking to the other business owners here (my officeis in the back corner of a small community mall). I want a brochure andletter ready to go by the end of this weekend. I'll start with thebusinesses here, then start spreading the word in 1/4 mile increments (I have aton of potential in the very near area).Any help with this is appreciated.I'm having an IMP surge in innovation currently (happens every fewmonths....?mania/ hypomania ;-) and have recently realized that "I'man entrepreneur but have not been acting entrepreneurial enough"!! I'm updating websites, business cards and thinking of free/low-cost marketing.I'm approaching 3 yrs as an IMP and I want 2009 to be the year when I surpassfinancial goals and finally "hit the groove" I'm envisioning allwhile giving great medical care and possibly offering great value for care topatients who are feeling the pinch of the difficult economy. It can bewin-win-win!Tim------------ --------- --------- --------- - Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth. com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser. com-- Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of theintended recipient(s) and contains confidential information. Unauthorized useor disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may notuse, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not theintended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email anddestroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.------------ --------- --------- --------- - ------------ --------- --------- --------- - Malia, MDMalia Family Medicine & Skin Sense Laser6720 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd.Perinton Square MallFairport, NY 14450 (phone / fax)www.relayhealth. com/doc/DrMaliawww.SkinSenseLaser. com-- Confidentiality Notice --This email message, including all the attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and contains confidential information. Unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.------------ --------- --------- --------- -

[Guest guest]

Here is what some of us are doing in Rhode Island, and it seems to be

working well...

http://www.healthaccessri.com/

The program has been legally reviewed; by billing patients at the end

of the month (not the start), we are not acting as insurance companies.