I know work for two mental health counselors. I am paid as a contractor where I have to pay my own taxes. I work from home. Their phone rings into my office here at the house and I am expected to be available Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm. I do intake, insurance eligibility and benefits, authorizations, filing and follow up on claims.
I want to change the dynamic of my employer/employee relationship. From where they pay me and set the agenda to where I charge for my services and set my own hours. I want to be able to take on more mental health counselors to do the intake and billing to make more money. I want more freedom over when I work with the ability to travel more.
I am investigating the benefits of using XXXXX to replace XXXXX (Names of software removed by moderator) as my database and to be able to work on the road.
My question involves how to price my time. Currently they are paying me what works out to be $12.69 an hour when I take out what I pay in self employment taxes.
With mental health billing I believe it is my best interest to charge by the hour. Since Counselors can only see one client an hour, I am not sure I can make enough if charging, say, 7% of collectibles.
I appreciate your feedback and questions.
Thank you for your time.
Barbara Carter