How to Earn Money for Your Medical Practice While You're Out of the Office
September 20th, 2013 1 Min readIf you have your own practice, you have two jobs: practicing medicine and running a business. And if there's one thing that all small business owners know, it's that you don't get paid when you're not working.
With the holiday season right around the corner, you're likely already thinking about taking some time off. Bringing in a temporary physician while you're out is a great way to meet your patients' needs -- and to bring revenue into your practice.
A colleague recently told me about a practice owner who had used a temporary physician but did not realize he could bill for that physician's services. What a shame! Reimbursement rules of Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance providers allow you to collect revenue for every service provided by an interim physician as if he or she was an actual staff employee.
That's the beauty of locum tenens. Acting as independent contractors, locum tenens doctors specialize in covering for physicians who are absent. Essentially, they serve as a patient-care contingency plan. When you're out of the office, you can relax, knowing you're leaving previously scheduled patients in capable hands. And your practice can be reimbursed as if you had actually been there to perform the procedures yourself!
When it comes to reimbursement, it's important to plan ahead. While Medicare and Medicaid will allow you to bill retroactively, some private insurance will not. Before you make your holiday plans, read this quick tutorial on how to bill for locum tenens services. There's no need to miss out on reimbursement just because you're away!
Author
