Medical Billing Forum

Starting a Medical Billing Business => Starting Your Own Medical Billing Business => : jyoung65 March 22, 2012, 12:10:37 PM

: New Client
: jyoung65 March 22, 2012, 12:10:37 PM
I just acquired a new provider and she is very demanding already. The day she signed a contract with me, she started demanding. At our meeting we discussed that I would mail her a copy of the contract she was good with that. However that evening she demanded me to fax her the contract no later then  noon that next day. I received an email from her 6:25AM this morning stating that my client that referred her said she is paying a percentage. At our meeting I told her that mental health providers are a flat rate. Now she is probably thinking that that she can not trust me. I did send her an email and told her that I have been working with my other client for two years and I do charge all mental health providers a flat rate. I see a problem with her. I charged her a flat rate per claim for managing the claim.  I learned with mental health providers a percentage is not profitable. It is like working for free and I can't do that. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I should handle this provider? Does anyone have mental health providers? How do you charge your mental health providers?

Thanks
: Re: New Client
: PMRNC March 22, 2012, 02:21:25 PM
Ok, you might not like my advice, but I've had this situation come up and I nipped it in bud so it couldn't happen again. EACH of my clients now has my contract which also contains a non-disclosure, which states they will NOT discuss fees with ANYONE.  Before that I had same exact situation and your instincts are probably right like mine were, this client I got rid of before I even started, and we just nullified the contract. It wasn't just over that issue, it was more over the fact that I knew this was going to be a problem client from the beginning. I even did NOT discount their setup fee like I normally do because I really thought they wouldn't sign. Anyway, when that issue came up about the pricing, I politely told the new client that I do not discuss my billing arrangements with other clients.  NOTE the period at the end of that sentence.. PERIOD. 

I tell you this because it will probably be first nature to you to cut the provider some slack, lower fee, etc and that's a bad idea as it sends a bad first impression to that client.. they will figure if they can negotiate that..they can negotiate other things, and before you know it your pulling your hair out and bending over backwards. 

So my response to her would be this,  "We do not discuss billing arrangements we have with other clients" Our fees are based on each individual practice and their needs

Also I would get out your contract and also add a non-disclosure clause :)
: Re: New Client
: jyoung65 March 29, 2012, 05:14:39 PM
Hello Linda,

Can you give me advise on how to add a non-disclosure clause to my contract?

Thanks :)
: Re: New Client
: PMRNC March 30, 2012, 02:23:47 PM
You should consult your attorney to insert the proper verbiage. Basically a non-disclosure can be specific or general.  For example, If I just didn't want my clients discussing fee's with anyone It would be specific to that. If I wanted them not to discuss any business arrangements, I would include them, list them and be certain it's all inclusive.  Again, this is legal verbiage that you want to consult with an attorney about.