Re: Workmen's Comp

[Guest guest]

Can anyone share their experiences with workmen's comp?

Would you recommend getting involved with it?

What have your experiences been for those of you who do workmen's comp

cases? Paperwork? Experiences with patients, their lawyers?

A lawyer called me this afternoon and asked if I would take some

workmen comp cases (I'm already hesitant).

Thanks for your input. Happy Holidays!

Soma

39 Fifth Ave. Ste 1-A

NY, NY 10003

http://www.positivehealthpc.com

[Guest guest]

here's my experience in washington state-- workers comp (labor & industries here) is probably the best payor around, and mastery of their billing and coding is essential. they even pay for telephone calls. it's not hard, just requires a lot of documentation, and with an emr, it's pretty easy. read their manual and check their website. next is the "paperwork". always send your chart note with your bill. you have to be sure to fill out all their forms. if you have adobe standard 7.0, you can sign all their forms, scan them in, and then use the "typewriter" tool (under "tools" in adobe) so you or your assistant fill in all the appropriate spaces. save a copy to the patient's folder, and then fax away using your computer's fax/modem. the hard part is screening patients. some are drug seekers, some are malingerers. some are legit. i never make an

appointment for a new work comp patient with an old injury until i have reviewed their chart and talked to their claims manager, and previous treating doctors. until and unless i am satisfied that they are legit, they don't get in the door. do not accept a patient just because someone else refers them. some pain clinics have a nasty habit of doing that. be prepared to prescribe narcotics, if you won't or don't, then make sure that you refer to a pain specialist. if they require narcotic medication and you prescribe, always use a pain agreement, and always get a pain specialist's review. if it's a new injury, and in an established patient, i will usually perform their care, however i write two separate notes if they come in for routine care and work comp care at the same time, and bill two different visits. keeps it clean. if it's a new injury and in a new patient, they usually come

to me by referral, usually from the chiropractor up the street, but it depends on the circumstances. always review the chart prior to making an appointment for them. by the way, same applies for MVA's. never accept a lien, that's another way to not get paid. private work comp can be nasty. i have heard that private claims managers get a bonus for denying care, i don't know, but i wouldn't doubt it. if necessary, you can sick the state on the privates; i've had to do that, and it works. all in all, it can work well. it depends on having consistent internal controls in place in order to select for the appropriate patients. i have an additional reason for seeing work comp patients-- i had a work comp injury many years ago, and i rehabilitated myself. i believe it is important to work, it's tied in to our self-image. i have also seen workers get screwed

by the system. this is an opportunity to help injured people get the appropriate care and then get back to work, and that is my approach to patients. i use a multidisciplinary approach, working with psychologists and psychiatrists, podiatry, orthopedics, neurology, physical therapy, pain clinic, physiatry, voc rehab, and the claims managers. i often use outside of the box solutions, and i've had good success. if i accept a work comp patient, i am the attending physician, which means i coordinate the care. that too, is not hard. i have testified in one work comp deposition, and the patient's attorney never paid me. if i ever testify again, you can be sure i will get a deposit commensurate with 200% of my anticipated fee or else no deposition. if i feel they just want to milk the system, i tell them i'm not the doctor for them. i have one patient

i'll be discharging for that very reason. soma, in your case, try to find out if it's a weasel or a decent attorney, commit to nothing, ask for the case file to review, and make no appointment for the patient. after reviewing the case file, ask to speak to the claims manager. then you can make a decision. attorneys doctor-shop, just like patients, including drug-seekers. i'll make a guess here, that the attorney has a case he/she's losing, and wants some fresh and innocent doctor blood to liven their case, but i could be wrong. btw, here, hipaa laws don't apply to work comp, however ask your attorney there. hope that's helpful. LL somamandal2000 wrote: Can anyone share their experiences with workmen's comp?Would you recommend getting involved with it?What have your experiences been for those of you who do workmen's comp cases? Paperwork? Experiences with patients, their lawyers?A lawyer called me this afternoon and asked if I would take some workmen comp cases (I'm already hesitant).Thanks for your input. Happy Holidays!Soma39 Fifth Ave. Ste 1-ANY, NY 10003http://www.positivehealthpc.com __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

From Drain: I wouldn't take some lawyer's workman's comp cases. I have been in court, and can manage it well, but don't like the kind of surprises that happen there. That said: I love workman's comp in Oregon. They pay the entire amount and pay it rapidly for my cases. However, most of my cases are clear cut workman's injuries; the most recent two were a guy burned by a boiler that blew up and hit is foot with a two inch stream of water (three boiler cases in one year) and aguy who fell from walking over a thousand tiny plastic ball bearings that were accidently dropped on the floor of the plastic designer's office. Before that it was a ladder fall onto a two foot steel pick that was on the ground breaking the guy's rib. No one ever doubts these cases. I considered joining the workman's comp HMO that is here, and decided

against it for a number of philosophical reasons. They allow exceptions for patients in some circumstances, and I am the only person here, so I can take anyone in this valley with no quibbles. Each state is different: ask around. One of our "self insured" big companies is centered in Tenn. and I will never take another patient of theirs. They are essentially in the business of not taking care of their employees, while describing their business as "taking pride in hiring hard-working, dedicated, Christian workers." Repulsive corporation. Probably 5% of my business comes from workman's comp. Joanne Holland DVM/MD the Dr in Drain, Oregon somamandal2000

wrote: Can anyone share their experiences with workmen's comp?Would you recommend getting involved with it?What have your experiences been for those of you who do workmen's comp cases? Paperwork? Experiences with patients, their lawyers?A lawyer called me this afternoon and asked if I would take some workmen comp cases (I'm already hesitant).Thanks for your input. Happy Holidays!Soma39 Fifth Ave. Ste 1-ANY, NY 10003http://www.positivehealthpc.com __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

From Drain: I wouldn't take some lawyer's workman's comp cases. I have been in court, and can manage it well, but don't like the kind of surprises that happen there. That said: I love workman's comp in Oregon. They pay the entire amount and pay it rapidly for my cases. However, most of my cases are clear cut workman's injuries; the most recent two were a guy burned by a boiler that blew up and hit is foot with a two inch stream of water (three boiler cases in one year) and aguy who fell from walking over a thousand tiny plastic ball bearings that were accidently dropped on the floor of the plastic designer's office. Before that it was a ladder fall onto a two foot steel pick that was on the ground breaking the guy's rib. No one ever doubts these cases. I considered joining the workman's comp HMO that is here, and decided

against it for a number of philosophical reasons. They allow exceptions for patients in some circumstances, and I am the only person here, so I can take anyone in this valley with no quibbles. Each state is different: ask around. One of our "self insured" big companies is centered in Tenn. and I will never take another patient of theirs. They are essentially in the business of not taking care of their employees, while describing their business as "taking pride in hiring hard-working, dedicated, Christian workers." Repulsive corporation. Probably 5% of my business comes from workman's comp. Joanne Holland DVM/MD the Dr in Drain, Oregon somamandal2000

wrote: Can anyone share their experiences with workmen's comp?Would you recommend getting involved with it?What have your experiences been for those of you who do workmen's comp cases? Paperwork? Experiences with patients, their lawyers?A lawyer called me this afternoon and asked if I would take some workmen comp cases (I'm already hesitant).Thanks for your input. Happy Holidays!Soma39 Fifth Ave. Ste 1-ANY, NY 10003http://www.positivehealthpc.com __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I do a fair amount of work comp for several corporations. No legal

stuff. It can be a pain to get paid but it does provide some variety

in the office. We do some drug screening anytime there is an injury

at the plant. We fix lacerations and other simple stuff. Sometimes

the work comp people will try to deny a visit after they sent them to

you in the first place which can be a pain. We keep a separate chart

for all work comp complaints since we are electronic.

Brent

>

> Can anyone share their experiences with workmen's comp?

> Would you recommend getting involved with it?

> What have your experiences been for those of you who do workmen's

comp

> cases? Paperwork? Experiences with patients, their lawyers?

>

> A lawyer called me this afternoon and asked if I would take some

> workmen comp cases (I'm already hesitant).

>

> Thanks for your input. Happy Holidays!

>

> Soma

>

> 39 Fifth Ave. Ste 1-A

> NY, NY 10003

> http://www.positivehealthpc.com

>

[Guest guest]

We do workman comp in our office.

My understanding is that it is a fair payor.

I'm thinking about dropping WC when I go on my own. Mainly due to some

issues below...

Much WC in our area is acute care -- ie I just put a nail-gun nail through

my hand, cut my leg on metal, fell off a ladder and injured my wrist, can

you see me right now? -- so it does tend to affect your schedule in regards

to working them in.

I find the majority of the visits to be fine and fun -- sprained ankle on

the work site, laceration that I sew up, etc.

They come back in a week or 2 or several visit over a month, then are

discharged from WC.

But's it's the ol' 80/20 rule. 20% of the patients cause 80% of the work.

There are the handful of patients who require multiple specialty referral

and tracking, preapprovals, keeping in touch with their employer, calling

the patient when they don't follow up, etc.

Then when they convert to chronic pain patients and don't get better -- some

requiring the " green poltice " for improvement -- then it becomes a hassle.

But overall, I would say it is enjoyable most of the time.

I would be hesitant to see referrals from an attorney, because I would

imagine they are patients that have already been throug the WC mill and are

complicated patients that may never get better -- plus the lawyer may want

documentation that is good for his side of the story, etc.

Just my thoughts.

RE: Workmen's Comp

Can anyone share their experiences with workmen's comp?

Would you recommend getting involved with it?

What have your experiences been for those of you who do workmen's comp

cases? Paperwork? Experiences with patients, their lawyers?

A lawyer called me this afternoon and asked if I would take some workmen

comp cases (I'm already hesitant).

Thanks for your input. Happy Holidays!

Soma

39 Fifth Ave. Ste 1-A

NY, NY 10003

http://www.positivehealthpc.com