Rick's Business of Audiology Blog

Government Limits Care Options

If the government controls our health care dollars then politicians will control the procedures that we have available to us.  Example: Medicare hasn't been good for hearing aid funding.  

I know Sarah Palin has been criticized for her "Death Squad" comment. It probably won't have that official title. In fact I expect the politicians will manage to make it difficult to determine who is making the decisions.  But the decisions will be being made.

CRM Systems: Scheduling and Billing

These are three that I believe are good choices for you:

(CRM = Customer Relationship Management System)

www.sycle.net  Perhaps the easiest to get started with.  They also offer a trial period which is useful for you even as a way to think about how you would use any of the systems.

www.hearform8.com

www.timsforaudiology.com

Each has their plusses and minuses for any particular office situation. I have experience with all and all are reasonable choices for dispensing Audiology offices.  

Siemens and Starkey have their own proprietary systems that may be OK if you are going to link yourself to one vendor, which those of you who know me know I discourage.

There are several other less used systems which are probably not worth researching unless you have unique circumstances.

The days of a paper appointment book are gone; and ought to be gone for you also.

Rick

Government vs. Managed Care

Today ADA sent out an alert by Kim Cavitt that is well worth actually reading; one of those things that makes your ADA dues worthwhile. Perhaps even worth printing off and keeping in your files for quick refresher guidance later.

Some managed care programs are requesting Audiologists provide "free" services to become a participating provider. This puts them in apparent direct conflict with any office that is a Medicaid or Medicare provider. ADA is warning Audiologists that take Medicare to avoid any of these arrangements.

Your ability to follow Medicare rules, or your professional ethics, isn't the managed care provider's problem. It is your problem. They will happily allow, or even encourage, you to violate the "other guy's" rules.