Author Topic: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians  (Read 3513 times)

kwardbilling

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Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« on: May 11, 2011, 11:03:50 AM »
Hi Everyone:  It's been a while since I've been on the site, it's great, just haven't had a lot of time on my hands....I've got a possible opportunity and before I meet with the practice I was wondering if someone had a suggestions for me.  At this point in time I use Therapist Helper for my billing software and use the claims connect service.  I pay a startup fee for each counselor I enroll in the software and I pay a yearly contract fee for each of them.  When I enroll new clinicians (which they have always been individual practices), I charge a flat fee for startup and then I charge a flat fee per session.  Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to charge when you set up a group practice.  I would still, I imagine, have to pay the software company for each clinician, so I would imagine I would have to charge a flat fee for each clinician?  Just seems like this would be expensive for a group practice to start up, would they expect this?  There are 8 clinicians in the practice......I hope I'm clear as to what I'm asking......any suggestions? 

Also, does anyone have any tips on starting up with a group practice as this is my first?

Thanks so much

Karen

Michele

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Re: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2011, 10:03:17 AM »
Karen,

   I am not familiar with Therapist Helper so I'm not sure how that works.  I would call to verify if you have to pay per therapist, or per billing EIN/NPI.  It may be quite expensive if they charge the the same price for an individual even if they are part of a group.  The set up fee (if it has to be per each therapist) may scare them away, so you want to be sure before you quote it.  You certainly don't want to scare them away and find out you weren't right. 

   With a group practice you should have the group info loaded, then each individual.  You would indicate which therapist treated the patient, then you would indicate the group billing information (EIN/NPI).  Basically the individual npi goes in 24J, and the name goes in 31.  The group info goes in Boxes 32 & 33 with the group NPI.
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kwardbilling

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Re: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2011, 12:50:36 PM »
Thank you so much for the information.  I will double check with my software company.  Michele, do you mind if I ask which software company you use?  Do they have a compatible claims connect or do you use another service for that?  Just curious......my contact with therapist helper ends on May 28, however, I am very nervous about changing software as I know mine so well and it's worked well for me so far.  I do think it may be more expensive though...

per the usual, thanks for your help.  I really enjoy this site.  I wish I actually had more time to browse.

Karen

Michele

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Re: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2011, 04:09:51 PM »
We use Lytec for most of our billing.  We submit electronically thru mostly Office Ally, some Availity.  I am not a huge Lytec fan, but it does what we need.  We have used a web based software for some accounts but they are not ready for public use yet.  Way behind schedule. 

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rdmoore2003

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Re: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2011, 06:43:51 PM »
Be very careful with TherapistHelper.  We used that program in the past and had to get a different program.  I know that a few years ago, alot of psychologists/psychiatrists made complaints to different boards about the company and their practices.

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Re: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2011, 06:43:51 PM »

kwardbilling

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Re: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2011, 09:45:02 PM »
Do you have any examples of problems.  I've been using therapist helper since 2007 and haven't had anything but good experience.  My only problem is I think they are expensive....If you know of anything in particular, I would like it if you could share?

thanks
Karen

rdmoore2003

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Re: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2011, 07:50:16 PM »
yes, my experience was a few including:
price inflation per incidents when had a contract with which we paid a monthly fee to cover this.( technical services, updates)
2) also found that claims were not being sent (excuses of "they fell thru the cracks"
3) rotten customer service (went as far as to tell the provider that he was cheap and should not have been given a license
etc, etc, etc.
These are my experiences and I have heard others.   Just be careful and keep an eye out.

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Re: Group Mental Health Practice / 8 clinicians
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2011, 07:50:16 PM »