Medical Billing Forum
General Category => New! => : cflorez January 22, 2014, 09:32:56 PM
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What is a reasonable amount to pay for referrals. If someone from a Doctors office (office manager) has a Doctors who's looking for my services.
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How about waiting for a few months to see how the account works out..and that you get paid and then perhaps sending a food basket to the office or doctor. A written thank you in the beginning goes a long way.
Merry
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You have to decide if this person was acting independently or as an employee of the dr. The reason I say this is because we have actually used this as a marketing tool. We approach the girls in some of the offices we work with and tell them we will reward them for referrals. In this case we are asking them as individuals to tell people about us, so we reward them individually. We base the reward on the size of the account and if they sign or not. If they get us an appointment but the client doesn't sign we give them a small gift. If the account is small we also give a small gift. If the account is larger, then the reward is larger.
Ex: Small part time social worker is worth maybe $50 referral fee. Large pediatrician with 3 drs & 2 NP's would be something more like several hundred.
If it is an office (or member of the office acting on behalf of the office) then we reward the office. We make sure we do so in a way that the person who actually referred us will benefit. For example, if the dr himself speaks for us then we may send him a gift certificate for a local restaurant. (usually $50 or $100 depending on the dr and who they referred). If it is his office manager then we might send a lunch over, or a basket of some sort. Edible arrangements is always popular.
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JUST remember that if a medical professional / provider refers you a client you cannot pay them a % of anything.. EVEN some gifts are considered kickbacks.
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We don't do %, ever. When it's a provider we handle it differently than if it's an individual acting independently. I think we are ok, but I always like to throw it out there to be reviewed by others. If I'm doing something wrong I want to know so I can change it! :)
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Thank you all for your great responses. I loved your detailed answers and examples. It helps me with the bigger picture.
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Is there something I need to know about kickbacks. I don't want to do anything illegal.
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Linda can answer this better than I, but I know you cannot offer a percentage or anything that appears to be fee splitting in any way. For example, a billing service cannot assist a provider in attracting new clients because the billing service directly benefits from the provider getting new clients. I don't know the legal verbage.
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There a million and one regs having to do with anti-kickback, stark, etc.. not sure which if any apply. What I referenced was a form of kickback IF The billing company taking the referal gives you a fee based on revenue in any way. I personally don't charge or pay referral fees as it's part of networking. I've given clients and I've received them, to me that's cost of business and networking. If a fee is to be arranged, to be safe, I would go a flat rate, a gift of some sort but would NOT do anything in regards to the practice receivables.