Author Topic: Ending contract with provider  (Read 4267 times)

barb2512

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Ending contract with provider
« on: April 19, 2013, 02:02:42 PM »
So I have had a client terminate her contract with me for billing and credentialing, after 8 years. Her new office person calls me to get the counselors license and practice insurance.

This counselor does not have good boundaries. So it is not surprising to me that she is told to call me and get the info.

I think the counselor should provide the new office person with all her info. I am angry that the new office person is asking me for the info. And for how to do this and how to do that. I am not being paid to train her new person so I don't feel I should provide her with info.

Help me out here. I don't want my anger to cloud my judgement.

Thank you.
Barbara

RichardP

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2013, 02:13:55 PM »
Your questions reflects one of the hazards of being a good biller / practice management person.  You make the provider's finances run so smoothly that, after a while, they think it is a natural state and that anybody could do it.  We've had clients do that to us, and then come back to us in 18 months or so with their finances / billing in shambles and ask us to take them on again as a client.  We always say no.

I would not give the requested information to the new office person.  You no longer have a business relationship with the provider, and the provider needs to establish a new relationship with the new office person.  This begins with the provider providing her important numbers to the new office person.  Whether the provider knows where to find these numbers, or whether this new person knows what to do with the numbers when they get them, should be of no concern to you.

If you answer these first series of questions, you will soon be expected to answer their questions about how to do the billing, etc.  That is why the provider was paying you - to get the benefit of your knowing how to do the billing.  Since they are no longer paying you, why should they get the benefit of your knowledge.

Respect yourself and what you have to offer.  Do not give away for free what you used to be paid for.

rdmoore2003

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2013, 02:27:28 PM »
I agree....You are no longer under contract so therefore, just wash your hands of this. 

DMK

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2013, 02:31:12 PM »
Richard is absolutely correct, you no longer have a business relationship with the provider....your contract was terminated.  You only have to do what your contract stated you had to do if or when the contract terminated.

barb2512

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2013, 02:39:56 PM »
Thanks all-- that helps explain the heat in my chest!! I was on the right track.

I was surprised that you said that you never take a client back. My husband and office help tell me it will only take 6 weeks before they are calling me to come back. And I was unsure what I should do if that happens.

Thank you.
Barb

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2013, 02:39:56 PM »

RichardP

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2013, 03:55:15 PM »
The good clients are not usually the ones who think they can get the same level of work from someone else for cheaper.  The ones who have walked and that we've said no to taking them back were problem clients / difficult to begin with.  But then, we are so busy that we turn away business.  I realize that others may not be in that kind of position, and may need clients.  If that is the case, they will need to seriously consider whether they want to take back someone who has walked away.  Edit: I said seriously consider; I meant carefully consider.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2013, 04:52:26 PM by RichardP »

PMRNC

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2013, 05:47:24 PM »
Quote
So I have had a client terminate her contract with me for billing and credentialing, after 8 years. Her new office person calls me to get the counselors license and practice insurance.

This counselor does not have good boundaries. So it is not surprising to me that she is told to call me and get the info.

I think the counselor should provide the new office person with all her info. I am angry that the new office person is asking me for the info. And for how to do this and how to do that. I am not being paid to train her new person so I don't feel I should provide her with info.

Help me out here. I don't want my anger to cloud my judgement.

I think the others gave you advice based on emotional or principled answers, however I'd have to say it would be all moot as you need to refer to your contract and hope you have covered all basics in your termination clause.   You of course don't owe the new billing person/company ANY information however the info requested of you might be required or in your best interest to provide to the client and let them determine how to disburse it. Of course w/out knowing the details outlined in your contract it's hard to really say what your obligated for or not.  In cases like this I take the easy way and refer to my attorney, takes me out of the equation :)
Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

RichardP

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2013, 06:52:37 PM »
We have been in a number of situations like what barb2512 has described.  We had no contractual obligation to help the new persons, but we did anyway - wanting to help smooth the transition for our ex-clients  So I speak from experience when I say that, if you answer the early questions, you create an expectation that you are the go-to people when the new biller doesn't know what to do.  You used to do this billing; so what did you do when you ran into such and such a situation?  After a while, it became obvious that it would have been better if we had never tried to be helpful to start with.  It is easier to cut off contact when you have answered zero questions than after you have answered 50.  And the provider and the new person really do need to develop a working relationship.  Helping to create a situation where the new person first turns to you rather than to the provider interferes with the development of that working relationship.

PMRNC

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2013, 07:20:23 PM »
I'm going to add something my attorney told me from the get go and I never tested the waters.  DO NOT ENGAGE, converse, associate or even communicate with a NEW billing company, biller or previous billing company and previous biller. HONOR only your contractual obligations to the person/client to which you are contracted with. BEING nice and professional in this sue happy world is not always practical. COVER YOUR butt. I've had MANY situations where a client wanted me to either give a biller/billing company something or get something from them. I politely remind them that my contractual agreement is with them and I stay out of ANY relationship they have with another billing company/biller.

I am not saying not to be cooperative or professional, definitely weigh each situation but if you are going to cooperate do so with the CLIENT you have the contract with NOT the new or old billing company!
Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

barb2512

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2013, 04:51:41 PM »
Thank you all for your great answers. I decided not to help the new biller because I do not want to be her go to person for anything at anytime. Just setting a boundary for me. It is not my job to teach her how to work with this provider. I appreciate the help here.
Barbara

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2013, 04:51:41 PM »

RichardP

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Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2013, 07:18:53 PM »
It is not my job to teach her how to work with this provider.

Bingo!

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Ending contract with provider
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2013, 07:18:53 PM »