After attending a seminar put on by the AMTA WA and two attorneys John Pieck and John Conniff, I was shocked and awed with the amount of information and mis- information that is prevalent in the massage profession.
While they said that they would be putting out a book and creating a website with this information, I am posting my take on it here with the hope of creating discussions and awareness of these issues that face us as massage therapists. The big difference for massage therapists in WA State is that we are licensed as health care practitioners and have rules to follow under that category as well as our massage licensing requirements.
The main points of the seminar included:
- it it illegal to charge different clients different fees (no matter what you think might validate your reason for doing so, you have to be able to prove it)
- it is illegal to get paid a % when working for someone as it violated kickback laws
- it is illegal to talk about fees, talk about issues that may influence whether or not someone signs a contract with an insurance company and it is illegal to organize a group to fight insurance companies unless it is an association or union.
- When you sign a contract with an insurance company make sure you understand what you are responsible for. Read all of the contract, the addendum’s and other materials put out by the insurance company and make sure you have all of those papers – sometimes they don’t send these to you.
- doing business with insurance companies is a risk. Make sure you know what you are getting into and make an informed decision. I highly recommend taking this class by the attorneys at Peick and Conniff that is offered occasionally through AMTA WA.
Resources from Peick and Conniff:
Discounting fees for health care services – newsletter
Am I an Independent Contractor or Employee?
Provider Agreement Analysis Sheet
Laws and Statuates:
Insurance Fraud : RCW 48.80.030
Federal Fraud and abuse lawsÂ
HIPAA Fraud : 42 USC 1320a-7c
False Claims 31 USC 3729
False Statements: 18 USC 1035
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