Author Topic: Office Service Charges  (Read 2315 times)

KDon

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Office Service Charges
« on: November 17, 2015, 06:16:31 PM »
I work with a Neurology Office in Texas and they want to start billing for office services.  They are having the patient sign off that they are aware of these charges not covered by insurance and they will be responsible. 

Sign off Form Example:
We are committed to providing you with the highest level of medical care.  We understand that in today’s healthcare environment you may require the assistance of our office with items that are not part of covered services by Medicare or your private insurance. 

In order to provide these non-covered services, we have added multiple staff members to our offices.  As such, will need to institute a charge for these non-covered services, in order to cover these added personnel costs.

Please note the following charges that will be applied to your account for the respective services not paid for by Medicare or your private insurance:

Disability forms                        $25/page
FMLA forms                           $25/page
Life insurance forms                        $25/page
Any requested letter                        $25/page
Paperwork for patient assistance programs            $20
Phone consults/questions initiated by you/family on your behalf   $20
Refills/prescription changes handled outside of an office visit      $20
Notarization of any document                  $20
Copies of medical records                     $25
Pre-authorizations for medications or services            $30
Interactions with your insurance company for drug-tier changes   $30
Failure to cancel an appointment 24 hours in advance         $25
Driver’s License form                     $15


Is this legal to do?  Or is this in the payor contracts as part of the services rendered?
Thank you for any help you can give me.  Documentation or links to information would be appreciated.



rdmoore2003

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Re: Office Service Charges
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2015, 07:21:50 PM »
You should check with a medical attorney for your state.  Our office does the following:
paperwork outside of an appointment= $25
our states medical records copy law = first 25 pages is $1.00 per page, pages 26-500 is $.50 per page, then $.25 for each additional page, + $25.00 handling fee.
notary is the same charge that we pay for notary services, etc, etc, etc,

preauthorizations for meds and services are not a separate billable service.

Again, you may want to take this form to your providers attorney for the legal aspect for your state.

Michele

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Re: Office Service Charges
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2015, 09:28:25 PM »
I agree with rdmoore2003, you should check with an attorney.  There are a couple of things on the list that are ok, but there are a couple that I do not think you can bill for.  For example, you can charge for missed appointments/late cancels.  But I don't believe you can charge for preauths and prescriptions.  Really need to be careful there.
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kristin

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Re: Office Service Charges
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2015, 12:56:11 AM »
As an office manager who has to handle those types of "services" on a daily basis for a specialty provider, I would never agree to sign a document like that if I was a patient. I would find another doctor who has staff that are able to handle a normal workload, as opposed to a provider who has "added multiple staff members to our offices.". What that tells me is that they haven't hired the right people, if they have to nickel and dime patients for those 99% of the things you listed. The legalities of some of what is listed is suspect, I would consult a healthcare attorney.

KDon

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Re: Office Service Charges
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2015, 09:29:40 AM »
Thank you all!  That is helpful information! :)

Medical Billing Forum

Re: Office Service Charges
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2015, 09:29:40 AM »