RE: Charging a flat fee for e-mail/ phone consultations

[Guest guest]

Dear Maggie, Just in case I was part of the consternation, I charge a flat fee for everything I do. I do not charge cash fee-for-service or bill insurance; hence I provide phone, email, web visits, etc. but do not charge "extra" for them. www.stlukesfp.org Bob Foresterjulesandzoemom wrote: Some people have reported that they charge a flat fee for all thee-mail and phone consultations they do. I am wondering what

theycharge and how they implemented the system. Send a letter? Talk atvisits. How did they keep track of who had paid and who didn't? Whatdo you do if people don't and then continue to send e-mails, etc?Also are there any legal implications as far as insurance companies go?Thanks,Maggie Carpenter, MDwww.drmaggiecarpenter.comBrooklyn, NY

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[Guest guest]

Wouldn’t

that be a violation of any insurance contracts you’ve signed?

Unfortunately, those things are all considered “bundled” into the

fee you are paid for office services (ie, just part of the job). I’m not

saying I agree with that mentality, just that it is the rules as far as I

understand them.

Charging a flat fee for e-mail/ phone consultations

Some people have reported

that they charge a flat fee for all the

e-mail and phone consultations they do. I am wondering what they

charge and how they implemented the system. Send a letter? Talk at

visits. How did they keep track of who had paid and who didn't? What

do you do if people don't and then continue to send e-mails, etc?

Also are there any legal implications as far as insurance companies go?

Thanks,

Maggie Carpenter, MD

www.drmaggiecarpenter.com

Brooklyn, NY

[Guest guest]

TRY IRA IN FLA

> Wouldn't that be a violation of any insurance contracts you've signed?

> Unfortunately, those things are all considered " bundled " into the fee

> you are paid for office services (ie, just part of the job). I'm not

> saying I agree with that mentality, just that it is the rules as far as

> I understand them.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Charging a flat fee for e-mail/ phone

> consultations

>

>

>

> Some people have reported that they charge a flat fee for all the

> e-mail and phone consultations they do. I am wondering what they

> charge and how they implemented the system. Send a letter? Talk at

> visits. How did they keep track of who had paid and who didn't? What do

> you do if people don't and then continue to send e-mails, etc?

>

> Also are there any legal implications as far as insurance companies go?

> Thanks,

> Maggie Carpenter, MD

> www.drmaggiecarpenter.com

> Brooklyn, NY

>

>

[Guest guest]

It's Ira in FLA...let me know how I can help!gthomson@... wrote: TRY IRA IN FLA> Wouldn't that be a violation of any insurance contracts you've signed?> Unfortunately, those things are all considered "bundled" into the fee> you are paid for office services (ie, just part of the job). I'm not> saying I agree with that mentality, just that it is the rules as far as> I understand them.>>>> >>>> Charging a flat fee for e-mail/ phone> consultations>>>> Some people have reported that they charge a flat fee for all the> e-mail and phone consultations they do. I am wondering what they> charge and how they implemented the system. Send a letter? Talk at> visits. How did they keep track of who had paid and who didn't? What do> you do if people don't and then continue to send e-mails, etc?>> Also are there any legal implications as

far as insurance companies go?> Thanks,> Maggie Carpenter, MD> www.drmaggiecarpenter.com> Brooklyn, NY>>Ira G. Warshaw, M.D.1216 U.S. Highway #1North Palm Beach, FL 33408(561)626-1000

[Guest guest]

Look at Doctors Care Co-operative for a simple, reliable, and robust

method for this type of fee recovery.

http://www.doctorscarecooperative.ca/FAQ/faq-for-doctors.html

I am seriously looking at doing this.

Even at $10 per month for 200 patients that is $24,000 per year extra

revenue.

Here in Canada, the are no co-pays and any type of fee is

controversial. Having said that, telephone calls are generally not an

insured service so I can charge for them. More and more Canadian MD's

are looking at these type of " overhead/un-insured " service charges.

The problem is that whatever increases in revenue the healthcare

system gets it consumes and demands more; without regard to value

delivered to the patient. The waste in my practice over the years,

looking back, knowing what I now know, has been absurd. Wasting time,

wasting goodwill, wasting health, waiting money; I've done it all.

Best regards,

Jeff Harries

Penticton, B.C.