Re: Re: Dropping insurance: kicking a broken system in the butt

[Guest guest]

Sent my letter to patients at the same time that I informed the insurance companies--90 days in advance.  A lot of them still did not " get it. "   Gotta have a thick skin.  If I waited to transition until all the patients understood and absorbed,  I would still be waiting over a year and a half later.  The mysterious world of how doctors are paid (or more accurately NOT paid) is of little interest to most patients. 

Good luck. Ewing , M.D.Durango, CO

 

As I recall, the transition and the informing of patients can be rocky -- with confusion on the patients' part about what is happening.

 

, didn't you have a brief letter that explained everything and how the new system would work, etc?

 

How long ahead of time did you inform your patients?

 

I would think more than 30 days would be required for patients to absorb the concepts, get comfortable with the idea, and consider staying with the doctor's new plan.

 

Locke, MD

 

Sofia, I understand your frustration with insurance companies. I worked for BCBSM for 20 years and have seen a drastic change in reimbursements. In my experience, Medicare Advantage is the absolute worst! It's not fair to the patient or the provider. You would need to contact the insurance companys " Provider Creditialing " department to express that you do not want to participate anymore. I would inform my patients in the form of a flyer at least 30 days prior. If your interest is to continue survicing those patients, I would be happy to set up a patient payment plan for them. They would just have to self submit their receipts to the insurance companies. Give us a call if you think I could help you . Or visit the website www.horizonscmb.com. I hope I helped. >> I have come to the conclusion that I must start dropping insurances in order to survive and create some level of freedom in my life. I refuse to be a willing participant in my enslavement. Having said that, I must ask the advice of the pioneers that have gone before me.

> > 1) how did you go about the process of dropping?> 2) how did you make your patients aware?> 3) did you drop one at a time or all at once?> 4) contingency plans?> 5) how long did the process take?

> 6) what did you do about inpatient admissions?> 7) any other pearls of wisdom?> > I plan on dropping the capitated and hmo plans first, the lowest paying PPOs next, and then will have to see when Medicare gets the ax. Right now it is one of my higher payors, but after reviewing the additional beaurocracy that the senate bills creates, the future mandate, the needless account and the fear of RAC auditors, I know I have to drop it.The question is, when?

> > Thank you for all of your input!> > -Sofia>

[Guest guest]

I throw my 2 cents in here.  I sent out a letter 90 days in

advance, and held informational meetings to explain things, answer questions,

etc.  Like , I discovered some people understood, and others really didn’t

and took a long time to get the idea into their brain.

Eads, MD

Pinnacle

Family Medicine

Colorado

Springs, Colorado

www.PinnacleFamilyMedicine.com

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Locke

Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 4:47 PM

To:

Subject: Re: Re: Dropping insurance: kicking a

broken system in the butt

As I recall, the transition and the informing of patients

can be rocky -- with confusion on the patients' part about what is happening.

, didn't you have a brief letter that explained

everything and how the new system would work, etc?

How long ahead of time did you inform your patients?

I would think more than 30 days would be required for

patients to absorb the concepts, get comfortable with the idea, and consider

staying with the doctor's new plan.

Locke, MD

Sofia, I understand your frustration with insurance

companies. I worked for BCBSM for 20 years and have seen a drastic change in

reimbursements. In my experience, Medicare Advantage is the absolute worst!

It's not fair to the patient or the provider. You would need to contact the

insurance companys " Provider Creditialing " department to express that

you do not want to participate anymore. I would inform my patients in the form

of a flyer at least 30 days prior. If your interest is to continue survicing

those patients, I would be happy to set up a patient payment plan for them.

They would just have to self submit their receipts to the insurance companies. Give

us a call if you think I could help you . Or visit the website www.horizonscmb.com. I

hope I helped.

>

> I have come to the conclusion that I must start dropping insurances in

order to survive and create some level of freedom in my life. I refuse to be a

willing participant in my enslavement. Having said that, I must ask the advice

of the pioneers that have gone before me.

>

> 1) how did you go about the process of dropping?

> 2) how did you make your patients aware?

> 3) did you drop one at a time or all at once?

> 4) contingency plans?

> 5) how long did the process take?

> 6) what did you do about inpatient admissions?

> 7) any other pearls of wisdom?

>

> I plan on dropping the capitated and hmo plans first, the lowest paying

PPOs next, and then will have to see when Medicare gets the ax. Right now it is

one of my higher payors, but after reviewing the additional beaurocracy that

the senate bills creates, the future mandate, the needless account and the fear

of RAC auditors, I know I have to drop it.The question is, when?

>

> Thank you for all of your input!

>

> -Sofia

>