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Flu Shot Charges
We started to offer the flu vaccine to serve the community. The cost is $20 cash-only; we don't do any billing. Since many of these patients have Medicare, is this allowed? People will pay $20, but Medicare may not pay that much.
Question: We started to offer the flu vaccine to serve the community. The cost is $20 cash-only; we don't do any billing. Since many of these patients have Medicare, is this allowed? People will pay $20, but Medicare may not pay that much.
Answer: If flu shots are a covered service, you have to bill for them (otherwise you are essentially requiring the patient to pay for the service twice). If the flu shot is not a covered service, you can provide it as a self-pay or cash service.
Medicare pays for flu shots once every flu season. The shot can be given within the same calendar year and still be reimbursed. For example, a patient can have a flu shot in January 2004 and again in November 2004.
Be aware that you should not offer services to anyone for less than Medicare rates. You don't want to be seen as offering illegal incentives to patients.
Asset Protection and Financial Planning
December 6th 2021Asset protection attorney and regular Physicians Practice contributor Ike Devji and Anthony Williams, an investment advisor representative and the founder and president of Mosaic Financial Associates, discuss the impact of COVID-19 on high-earner assets and financial planning, impending tax changes, common asset protection and wealth preservation mistakes high earners make, and more.
Reducing burnout with medical scribes
November 29th 2021Physicians Practice® spoke with Fernando Mendoza, MD, FAAP, FACEP, the founder and CEO of Scrivas, LLC, about the rising rates of reported burnout among physicians and how medical scribes might be able to alleviate some pressures from physicians.
