Dr. Reddick here…..
As you may know, there are many changes occurring in the field of health care these days. In the past few years, there have been laws passed that affect every health care provider and their patients. One of the most significant laws requires us to implement “Compliance Programs” which mandate every doctor’s office, hospital and even insurance company to ensure that patient information and confidentiality are maintained. In addition to these changes, the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act of 1996 and other recent federal guidelines have made it clear that every doctor’s office must review its office and billing policies to reduce the potential for billing and coding errors and assure that improper discounts or inducements are not being offered to patients, especially those covered by the federal government. These steps are designed to help improve the overall access to health care by eliminating potential fraud and abuse of the programs.
As a result of these laws, which have been phased in over the past several years, our office is taking steps to make sure we are in compliance with these federal guidelines. While we will always do everything we can to make your care in our office the most positive experience possible, we must also implement some changes required by law that will affect our prior policies. For example, steps are now being taken to protect your privacy as a patient in our office. In addition to these changes, we are required to review all financial policies to ensure that our office financial policy meets federal standards as outlined in the HIPAA Regulations and other Federal Regulations published by the Office of Inspector General. In making these changes, it may mean that our billing procedures and the fees we currently charge may change. Most every doctor’s office in the country has at some point tried to help patients by not charging for everything that is done, or limiting certain charges, or writing off or discounting certain procedures to help their patients. While this seems like a logical thing to do to help our patients, the laws and rules have changed and therefore we must make changes in order to be in complete compliance with these laws and rules.
This means that ALL patients must pay the same rates for professional services unless they are part of an insurance program or network that has contracted for a lower fee on their behalf. While we disagree with being “told” what to do for our patients in our private practice, we must comply with the law.
Now, here is the GOOD NEWS! We have taken steps in our office to help you control the cost of your chiropractic care. We have joined ChiroHealthusa which is a provider network that allows us to extend significant savings to you and your family. By enrolling in this program, you will have access to lower contracted fees just like many large insurance carriers do. The network membership is only $39.00 for the YEAR and it covers you and all of your dependants. It is not insurance and you can use if for non-covered services right along with any insurance you may have. While our main goal in our practice is to help you get back to normal health as soon as possible, we are also committed to helping lower you overall health care expenses.
At the conclusion of your next visit or when you return to our office for care, please be sure to let the receptionist know if you would like to hear more about ChiroHealthusa. We hope you and your family will take advantage of this program to help lower your health care expense. We sincerely appreciate you allowing us to be of service to you and your family. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.
Until next time…..here’s to your complete wellness
