Insurance Billing for the Massage Therapist
By Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
The massage therapy profession continues to gain serious recognition within the healthcare community as more and more companies allow massage sessions to be billable, much to the benefit of both the client and practitioner. Dealing with companies can be a daunting task, especially for a massage therapist with a solo practice. When there’s no other staff to deal with the numerous forms that accompany billing, the burden then falls to the therapists themselves to complete and submit the required paperwork in a timely manner. This can turn an already busy schedule into a very hectic one.
Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with, especially for someone who’s just getting their feet wet in this area. Aside from the large amount of paperwork, there’s the possibility of waiting long periods of time before being compensated, or in some cases, not at all. This fear of paperwork and inadequate compensation makes many massage therapists hesitant to deal with companies at all.
On the other hand, this “paper-nightmare”
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may not be as bad as you might think. Expanding your practice into the realm of billing can translate into more clients, which means increased income. What massage therapist couldn’t benefit from seeing more clients? The key point to remember is not to compromise your ethical standards when dealing with companies. It can be a ruthless game, but don’t let yourself become a victim. Be prepared and stay informed of the necessary information, such as current codes and forms, as they are constantly changing. Keep detailed, accurate notes for each client and session, and take continuing education courses to stay up to date on pertinent information. The more you stay on top of policies and procedures, the easier it will be for you to acclimate yourself to the world of billing.
While the entire process of billing can be overwhelming at first, once you get into the swing of things, you’ll wonder what took you so long to join your colleagues in this venture. Click here to learn more about getting into this new aspect of massage therapy.
This article was prepared for
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