Registration Fee
Bionic LLC
Description
Collection
Title:
Registration Fee
Creator:
Bionic LLC
Date:
5/20/2021
Text:
As a follow-up to my original post yesterday, I have received a number of
responses - almost all surprised at this:
*Sorry folks!*
*I somehow sent my piece before completing the email; it should have
remained in drafts so here it is completed.*
*All, this may be a trifle tangential but I experienced the following with
my own healthcare: This morning I was examined by an orthopod for a
shoulder issue I'm having. Among other suggestions, he referred me to a PT
facility that specializes in cranio-sacral modalities.*
*The facility called me quickly to set up an appt and to go over my ins
coverage. At the end of the call, I was very surprised to learn that they
charge a registration admin fee of $55.*
*In all of my years in O&P and with my own healthcare , I never came across
this. Imagine if O&P facilities did this; how many patients would 'walk'*
*(no pun intended)? Facilities already do so much for free. As a courtesy,
we handle patient insurance, authorizations, billing, and collections. In
my experience, many patients are not aware of what their insurance coverage
is. And, I know most of you out there advocate for your patients, putting
unreimbursable time in fighting for them to receive the best designs and
components for their needs.*
*I am retired now but I do miss the patient care and interactions, but the
admin part for free? Maybe it's time for a new paradigm but not sure what
that would look like.*
*What say you?*
*BTW, I am questioning whether I should keep my appt tomorrow and pay that
$55. I actually called the Orthopod's office to let them know about this
and the Medical Assistant at least was appalled. She was going to inform
the Doc.*
*Stay vertical*
Because the PT facility is in the loop with my health system (or were given
my insurance info by the referring orthopod), they already had run my
insurance (MCare/Aetna) and knew that I reached my deductible for the
year. So when they called me to set up the appt, they had most of what
they needed for intake. Needless to say, I cancelled the appt for today
telling them I was put off by their policy and felt they were arrogant to
require that $55 admin fee. I also wasn't too thrilled for them to be
doing CST on me anyway, which from my scant research is not that solid a
modality.
Eric Schwelke CPO (E)
Bionic Resources LLC
962 Governors Court
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Direct: 917 337 7557
<Email Address Redacted>
Over 40 years of experience in the Prosthetic/Orthotic profession,
presently the Director of BIONIC RESOURCES LLC, which provides consulting
services to legal firms and their clients related to issues of malpractice
and product liability specific to the Prosthetic/Orthotic profession.
responses - almost all surprised at this:
*Sorry folks!*
*I somehow sent my piece before completing the email; it should have
remained in drafts so here it is completed.*
*All, this may be a trifle tangential but I experienced the following with
my own healthcare: This morning I was examined by an orthopod for a
shoulder issue I'm having. Among other suggestions, he referred me to a PT
facility that specializes in cranio-sacral modalities.*
*The facility called me quickly to set up an appt and to go over my ins
coverage. At the end of the call, I was very surprised to learn that they
charge a registration admin fee of $55.*
*In all of my years in O&P and with my own healthcare , I never came across
this. Imagine if O&P facilities did this; how many patients would 'walk'*
*(no pun intended)? Facilities already do so much for free. As a courtesy,
we handle patient insurance, authorizations, billing, and collections. In
my experience, many patients are not aware of what their insurance coverage
is. And, I know most of you out there advocate for your patients, putting
unreimbursable time in fighting for them to receive the best designs and
components for their needs.*
*I am retired now but I do miss the patient care and interactions, but the
admin part for free? Maybe it's time for a new paradigm but not sure what
that would look like.*
*What say you?*
*BTW, I am questioning whether I should keep my appt tomorrow and pay that
$55. I actually called the Orthopod's office to let them know about this
and the Medical Assistant at least was appalled. She was going to inform
the Doc.*
*Stay vertical*
Because the PT facility is in the loop with my health system (or were given
my insurance info by the referring orthopod), they already had run my
insurance (MCare/Aetna) and knew that I reached my deductible for the
year. So when they called me to set up the appt, they had most of what
they needed for intake. Needless to say, I cancelled the appt for today
telling them I was put off by their policy and felt they were arrogant to
require that $55 admin fee. I also wasn't too thrilled for them to be
doing CST on me anyway, which from my scant research is not that solid a
modality.
Eric Schwelke CPO (E)
Bionic Resources LLC
962 Governors Court
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Direct: 917 337 7557
<Email Address Redacted>
Over 40 years of experience in the Prosthetic/Orthotic profession,
presently the Director of BIONIC RESOURCES LLC, which provides consulting
services to legal firms and their clients related to issues of malpractice
and product liability specific to the Prosthetic/Orthotic profession.
Citation
Bionic LLC, “Registration Fee,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/255407.
