Comments on: Massage Insurance Reimbursement http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/ Exporations in the Theory and Practice of Massage Fri, 18 May 2012 17:25:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Julie Onofrio http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-48595 Julie Onofrio Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:09:20 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-48595 Yes massage does help with preventative things but insurance <strong>does not cover maintenance or preventative massage</strong>. They only cover massage for the purpose of rehabilitation from an injury or condition in which massage can resolve the problem. Insurance doesn't usually cover massage just because you want to get massage. That is the problem. I only just a few weeks ago got a someone with a wellness plan that would cover that. I am not against people using insurance benefits for their massage. It is what has kept me in business for so long. What I do have trouble with is the insurance companies are constantly lowering what they pay us meaning I lose money taking a client with insurance benefits now except for car accidents. I can't stay in business when I lose money with every client so I have to stop taking some of the insurances. Only FL and WA will allow people to have benefits for massage sessions and most states will pay for injuries due to car accidents or accidents at work. You need to know the laws and coverage. It is a long way from being covered for maintenance massage or for preventative uses. Yes massage does help with preventative things but insurance does not cover maintenance or preventative massage. They only cover massage for the purpose of rehabilitation from an injury or condition in which massage can resolve the problem. Insurance doesn’t usually cover massage just because you want to get massage. That is the problem. I only just a few weeks ago got a someone with a wellness plan that would cover that.

I am not against people using insurance benefits for their massage. It is what has kept me in business for so long. What I do have trouble with is the insurance companies are constantly lowering what they pay us meaning I lose money taking a client with insurance benefits now except for car accidents. I can’t stay in business when I lose money with every client so I have to stop taking some of the insurances.

Only FL and WA will allow people to have benefits for massage sessions and most states will pay for injuries due to car accidents or accidents at work. You need to know the laws and coverage. It is a long way from being covered for maintenance massage or for preventative uses.

]]> By: Jennifer http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-48592 Jennifer Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:45:24 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-48592 Julie, you are a massage therapist are you not? I don't see how you can be against letting insurance cover part of the cost of a patient's massage. Most insurance plans would not cover the whole thing, there would be a co-pay, as there is with almost all types of doctor's appointments, so there is still an incentive for the patient not only get the massage if it is truly needed and/or truly providing benefits (since they are in part paying for the cost). And, regarding this comment: "Clients who use insurance for massage also tend to want to get massage long after their pain is gone or they may try to use it in preventative ways. They also try to use it just for everyday aches and pains caused by sitting at the desk too long or working in the yard or climbing a mountain." What? Using massage in a preventative way and using it to get rid of neck aches and/or pains from physical activity ARE some of the reasons that massage is valuable! To say otherwise is to discredit your own profession. If you don't think that massage can provide great benefits to people without super serious conditions, I don't understand your perspective on massage, and it is utterly different than any massage therapist’s I have ever encountered. That being said, it would surprise me that anyone in the massage therapy industry be against patients be able to pay for massage in part with their insurance. If insurance companies disallow it, I feel it is a statement that massage is not a serious established treatment and not "worth it" for people to receive it. Julie, you are a massage therapist are you not? I don’t see how you can be against letting insurance cover part of the cost of a patient’s massage. Most insurance plans would not cover the whole thing, there would be a co-pay, as there is with almost all types of doctor’s appointments, so there is still an incentive for the patient not only get the massage if it is truly needed and/or truly providing benefits (since they are in part paying for the cost). And, regarding this comment: “Clients who use insurance for massage also tend to want to get massage long after their pain is gone or they may try to use it in preventative ways. They also try to use it just for everyday aches and pains caused by sitting at the desk too long or working in the yard or climbing a mountain.” What? Using massage in a preventative way and using it to get rid of neck aches and/or pains from physical activity ARE some of the reasons that massage is valuable! To say otherwise is to discredit your own profession. If you don’t think that massage can provide great benefits to people without super serious conditions, I don’t understand your perspective on massage, and it is utterly different than any massage therapist’s I have ever encountered. That being said, it would surprise me that anyone in the massage therapy industry be against patients be able to pay for massage in part with their insurance. If insurance companies disallow it, I feel it is a statement that massage is not a serious established treatment and not “worth it” for people to receive it.

]]> By: Julie Onofrio http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-28440 Julie Onofrio Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:41:30 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-28440 There is no average. There may be limits in their policy like a dollar amount but even if their benefits run out there may be a court case later that would get more money that you would get paid out of. Talk to the lawyer and insurance company and the client to find out more. Julie There is no average. There may be limits in their policy like a dollar amount but even if their benefits run out there may be a court case later that would get more money that you would get paid out of. Talk to the lawyer and insurance company and the client to find out more.

Julie

]]> By: Deb Riggs http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-28436 Deb Riggs Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:35:23 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-28436 What's the average number of visits that insurance will typically cover per incident? What’s the average number of visits that insurance will typically cover per incident?

]]> By: Wolfy http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-18537 Wolfy Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:37:06 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-18537 My partner is an LMT contracting with a chiropractor in Oregon. He heard from an other LMT that he has to be a Chiropractic Assistant to be payed by insurance companies to for doing work under the chiropractor. Is this true? My partner is an LMT contracting with a chiropractor in Oregon. He heard from an other LMT that he has to be a Chiropractic Assistant to be payed by insurance companies to for doing work under the chiropractor. Is this true?

]]> By: Tricia http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-12230 Tricia Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:30:46 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-12230 I don't have an attorney. Do I need one? I am an employee getting paid by the hour I don’t have an attorney. Do I need one? I am an employee getting paid by the hour

]]> By: Julie Onofrio http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-11894 Julie Onofrio Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:56:19 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-11894 You will have to ask your attorney. Each situation is different. It depends if you are an employee or subcontractor. Julie You will have to ask your attorney. Each situation is different. It depends if you are an employee or subcontractor.

Julie

]]> By: Tricia http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-11872 Tricia Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:35:47 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-11872 If I work with a chiropractor and am doing massage on his clients do I bill under my name, his name or the practice? If I work with a chiropractor and am doing massage on his clients do I bill under my name, his name or the practice?

]]> By: Julie Onofrio http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-7734 Julie Onofrio Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:57:30 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-7734 You have to ask the CT workmens comp division to get the specifics for what you are allowed to bill and proper billing procedures that you need to do to get paid by them. Most have a manual of some sort or a provider rep to help you. The main codes are listed on my main website http://www.thebodyworker.com/ins-billing-contents.htm but you have to decide what type of massage you do and what code it fits under and then see if they will pay for that code. You have to ask the CT workmens comp division to get the specifics for what you are allowed to bill and proper billing procedures that you need to do to get paid by them. Most have a manual of some sort or a provider rep to help you.

The main codes are listed on my main website
http://www.thebodyworker.com/ins-billing-contents.htm

but you have to decide what type of massage you do and what code it fits under and then see if they will pay for that code.

]]> By: sue http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/massage-insurance-reimbursement/comment-page-1/#comment-7733 sue Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:52:57 +0000 http://thebodyworker.com/massage_blog/?p=421#comment-7733 Hi Can someone help me with billing workmen's comp. My client is in Connecticut. Do I need to bill in the 15 min increments and if so what would the CPT code be? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. It was approved to. Hi

Can someone help me with billing workmen’s comp. My client is in Connecticut. Do I need to bill in the 15 min increments and if so what would the CPT code be? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. It was approved to.

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