Practice Management Alert

Billing auto insurance for motor vehicle accidents can be risky business for physician practices. But you can steer clear of billing traffic and potential wrecks with these cautionary instructions. Look Both Ways Before Billing Billing auto insurance is infamous for its hassles complicated claims, uncooperative payers, lawsuits and more. Therefore, assess all potential consequences for your practice efficiency and productivity before you bill auto insurance. When you bill auto insurance, "so many variables are involved," says Marsha Sosebee, collections coordinator and team leader for the billing and collections department at Associates in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Dalton, Ga. She recommends that you consider the following factors when deciding whether to bill auto insurance and how to handle the claim if you do: * the number of insurances you must handle * the party at fault * medical payment funds available on policies * your relationship with the insurer * the agent or attorney involved * the patient's track record of payment to your office * the seriousness of injuries * the patient's financial situation. If you're working for an orthopedic practice, pay special attention to assessing your auto insurance claims. Because orthopedics receives almost all motor vehicle accident (MVA) patients, whether or not you get paid from auto insurance claims is a "big issue" for that specialty, Sosebee says. Wheel and Deal to Get Claims Paid It's tempting to kick energy-guzzling auto insurance claims out the door, but savvy personal skills may be your ticket to getting paid from them. If you decide to bill the automobile insurance, "make sure you know whom you are dealing with," Sosebee says. Build the right relationships with both auto insurers and third-party payers. Develop strong relationships with the agent, the insurer's claims department, and the attorney, she advises. Sending medical records promptly, when requested, is one way to improve business relations. (For more tips, see the companion article in article 2.)

Getting to know the agent "worked out well" for her office, says Paula Casto, billing manager at Teen & Family Care in Irving, Texas. When Casto billed the patient's PIP plan the Personal Injury Protection Benefits contained within an automobile insurance policy the agent allowed her to fax the claims, and she was paid within the week. Work with the claims adjusters as well. Bill auto insurance when a claims adjuster calls, experts tell Medical Office Billing and Collections Alert. If the claims adjuster asks for the medical claims form in exchange for pay, consider giving him the claim you've already filed to medical insurance and reimbursing the medical insurer. But regardless of the circumstance, when you bill auto insurance, you make a potentially hazardous move. "When all is said and done, [...]