General Category > General Questions
Billing for Psychiatrist
jcbilling:
I see - forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?
Michele:
Not ignorance! It's only ignorance if you choose not to be educated!
Psychiatrist - can prescribe medications, usually sees patients for about 15 minutes to review medications and see how patient is doing.
Psychologist - cannot prescribe medications, see patients for psychotherapy, usually appts are 50 minutes to an hour.
:)
Michele
PMRNC:
Mental health falls under reductions in cases where states have not adapted Mental Health Parity laws, however there are now federal mental health parity laws which you can research to find out the reductions if any. Parity provides patients with access to mental health as any other illness ie; if medical is covered at 80/20 so than should mental health, With Medicare they are easing towards it year by year which you should also research.
In regards to the specialty in general, I love mental health because you can consult with your clients about other services they can provide to increase their revenue. I have mental health clients that do court testimonies, prison intakes,visits, nursing home consults, and other specialty group services. I have one client who spent 7 days a week seeing patients and when we got him into other things he was making twice as much money and spending less time/money on insurance.
jcbilling:
Wow - thanks for the info...it gives me something to think about as far as our marketing efforts are concerned.
I appreciate it.
rdmoore2003:
okay michelle,
i disagree about the differences. New Mexico and Louisiana now have Medical Psychologists. Which means that a psychologist with prescriptive rights.
I work for a medical psychologist which has been prescribing now for a couple of years. Another difference, is that psychologists do testing. I cant tell you how often we have referrals from all over the state and other states from psychiatrists that are misdiagnosing patients and often prescribing medication that is inaffective.
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