Locum tenens physicians: Tips for reimbursement - Rethinking reimbursement

Locum tenens physicians: Tips for reimbursement - Rethinking reimbursement - ModernMedicine

HOT TOPICS: Dermatology Diagnosis Images · Liability & Risk Management· Health Care IT

In a recent survey conducted by Delta Locum Tenens, healthcare facilities and physicians nationwide were asked about how they work together on billing and reimbursements. Respondents from facilities included administration, human resources, and credentialing/privileging personnel. Provider respondents included physicians from a number of specialties.

Each group answered a short set of questions. The results of the survey help to identify common issues between the two groups that can be resolved by better understanding each other's expectations with regard to the subject of billing and reimbursement.

FACILITY REIMBURSEMENT

Have you ever had a problem with reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services?

Nearly 60 percent of respondents representing a facility said they've never had a problem with reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services; however, more than 40 percent said they've had a problem at one time.

Table 1. What are your concerns about reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services?

Respondents who have not used locum tenens previously were asked more specifically about their concerns with regard to reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services (see table 1). Credentialing with private insurance was consistently one of the top reasons for their anxiety, in addition to Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement.

Table 2. What are your obstacles regarding reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services?

Respondents who have used locum tenens previously said that credentialing with private insurance companies was the number one obstacle for hospitals with regard to reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services, with the highest number of responses at 39.1 percent (see table 2).

Table 3. What has led to your successes with reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services?

This supports the importance for facilities to understand all aspects of their privileging/credentialing processes and communicate this effectively to locum tenens agencies at the onset of their relationship. An overwhelming majority of facility respondents—61.9 percent—said that ensuring providers are credentialed with private insurance companies has contributed most to their success with reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services (see table 3).

The second most important factor in a hospital's success with reimbursement/billing for locum tenens services is the provider's ability to complete patient charts and paperwork in a timely and sufficient manner. Knowledge of the facility's EMR system also was listed as a top concern in the previously mentioned question. Providers, however, don't feel they've been given adequate training on EMR and/or billing systems.

post a comment

Please complete the form below to post your comment.

Bold = Required

Email Address		Your email address will NOT be published.
Display Name		appears with your comment
City
State
Country

Remember me: YesNo

Comment

read our privacy policy

Note: does not support HTML

All comments submitted are subject to review and may be delayed before posting. We reserve the right not to post comments. Comments from patients or members of patients' families seeking medical advice will not be posted.