Diana Thompson's book, Hand's Heal, is now available on Ebay for a buck(at least a used version). Even with $3.99 shipping it seems like a no-brainer to buy. I paid in the high $30 range when I bought this book a few years ago, and I still use some the forms inside the book when I get an insurance case.
It's a good place to start to know what you are going to have to do to bill insurance for massage. In the end if even you decide you don't want to get involed with insurance billing for massage, you will come out a much better documentor for your massage sessions, something all of us, even seasoned therapists, need improvement on.
--Sean
Oct 15, 2009 Rating
https://www.officeally.com/ by: Hans Albert Quistorff, LMP Antalgic Posture Pain Specialist
I'm doubtful there is any true free way to learn insurance billing. There are degree programs in Billing and Coding at colleges, so it is an in-depth field with a fair amount of knowledge to know. That being said, you are going to have to pay something to get that knowledge. It doesn't need to be an entire college degree tution, but the cost of a few good massage insurance books is a good start.
After that, at least one CEU course regarding insurance billing seems in order.
But now that you have brought up the insurance issue, I'll give you my 2 cents on the subject:
Plain in simple---massage insurance billing is a complete pain in the ass!
There is no doubt about it, I have made money billing insurance for massage services, but I can say that in the process of exchange for that money, I gave more than my time and effort for the massage service and phone tag time. I gave away a part of my soul of massage in the process.
It's a game for sure, and not always a fair one. Be prepared to loose sometimes no matter how hard you try. Also, be prepared to sometimes be reimbursed LESS than your actual cash rate for an hour of massage. More and more insurance companies are reimbursing less for our work.
Also, be prepared for some ackward conversations and communications with your clients when bills get denied by insurance companies. Some of those conversations can range from just a little embarrasing, all the way to downright hostile. People who use their insurance don't want to write a check. So if somehow the insurance company backs out, the patient rarely will want to cough up the dough.
And this situation happens all the time.... Some will even threaten malpractice after the fact if they end up getting a bill when their insurance company flopps on them.
I understand the motivation to accept insurance, but I suggest you become so good at what you do that people WANT to write you a check for $75 (or whatever you charge) after each session. Cash really is the best system. There are no hidden motivations nor misunderstandings.
Still, if you feel you must accept insurance for your services remember the 50/50 rule. Keep your practice 50% Cash and 50% Insurance-MAX!. If you go 100% Insurance with your practice, you'll run out of cash flow to pay your business expenses before you receive your insurance reimbursement checks.
Yes, sometimes it can take 3 months to get your money!
