In the past 10 years the Worker’s compensation market has been on a bumpy ride, first up as it was exploited by unethical practitioners and “mill” operations and down as the inevitable “other shoe” of arrests and reforms happened.

Lately, however, the Worker’s Compensation market has begun to look healthy and hopeful again. Here’s how your patients and your practice can benefit:

• Proper authorizations are required for success now. Become an expert at submitting RFA
• Are you and your staff trained in the due diligence of following up on RFAs once submitted? While helpful and well meaning, you cannot depend on the adjusters to look out for you and your patient’s interests so develop in house “best practices” and follow them, then review and improve them over time. This is never “one and done”
• Do you and your staff know the proper Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) to insure approvals the first time, every time? Having an expert medical billing partner is essential here.
• Internal procedural checklists (The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right) are your friend and not just for Workers’ Compensation.
• As a matter of procedure doctors should never treat patients without an authorization being secured.
• Doctors are experts at “relief and remedy” and must DEPEND on well-trained, experienced staff to handle authorizations.

The treatment plan is followed, the invoice sent but this is still not a source of guaranteed income. The longer a bill is in collections the, the percentage of money recovered diminishes as time passes. This “aging” of accounts has to be avoided in order for practices to be profitable.

The Workers’ Compensation market seems to be experiencing a new Springtime of growth and opportunity. Make sure that your practice has its procedures in place as the market thaws out and the flood gates open!

Do you need help with CPT or ICD 9 Codes?

We know that proper coding is the foundation of getting your patients the appropriate treatment approvals. If you’re having trouble researching the proper codes, we can help! Just contact your Case Facilitator expert Esteban, George or Melanie (look to the right)! They know the codes, or can get them! They are your cheat sheet!