Billing for mental health sessions by interns.

[barb2512]

---  Are any master's level counselors billing and getting paid by insurance for visits where the client was seen by an intern under supervision? I know that the NPI number of the counselor/intern who physically saw the client goes on the date of service line on he hcfa. And at the bottom of the hcfa the master's level counselor puts their info, their tax ID, facility name and address and billing name and address and NPI.

But I have always been told that visits with interns will not be paid by insurance. I am interested in hearing  any experiences with this type of billing be they positive or negative.

Thank you.

Barbara

[rdmoore2003]

In my state, My medical psychologist falls under the "supervision" requirements.  Our interns can see the patient as long as MP is in office and signs off on documentation.  He also is required to do weekly supervision with the intern.    We are able to file to insurance.    I would check with your states supervision laws before submitting any claims.

[PMRNC]

Back in 1998 I had a psychologist who was supposed to "supervise" and then one day he took his 5th vacation in a year.. only this time he let me know in advance and low, and behold I was getting daysheets while he was out vacationing... when doing my own audit, I had seen it was done a few times, I turned him in and got whistle blowers payment 3 years later.. he's now an excluded provider. BE careful when dealing with billing of supervising providers!

I now require my supervising clients to sign off / initial on each superbill.

[Merry]

Linda..I remember that story. Foolish guy.

[PMRNC]

Yeah, when I went and did an audit I found about 8 weeks of OTHER vacations he took where I got superbills/daysheets..

[barb2512]

Okay - so when you say 'in the office' do you mean physically in the same room as the counseling session or just on the premises?

Barb

[rdmoore2003]

Okay - so when you say 'in the office' do you mean physically in the same room as the counseling session or just on the premises?

Barb

In my state, he must be in the office (premises) not in the same room.   

[PMRNC]

ON SITE means in THE OFFICE. Does not have to be in same room. MUST be ONSITE. Not at his house or on the golf course.

[kristin]

Same in my state(and I think all of them for that matter)...on site means in the office somewhere, not necessarily in the actual treatment room.

[barb2512]

Thank you all. I will try to find what the insurance board says for the state of Texas.

Barbara