The Acupuncture Poll's question for August 2004 was:
Do you belong to a managed care network? If so, how many networks do you belong to?
Results are as follows:
These results are based upon 107 responses. As this is a voluntary, non-scientific survey, caution should be used in generalizing the results. Here is a sample of the comments made by those who took the survey and how they voted. Some comments have been edited for brevity.
I am not part of a managed care network:
Part of me wants my patients to be able to use insurance to pay for treatment. However, I do not, nor do I ever hope to, become involved in billing directly to insurance companies. I fear that our profession will end up suffering the same problems chiropractic does if we become heavily involved in insurance programs.
I see about 75 patients a week average. All patients pay directly out-of-pocket. Those with insurance submit for reimbursement. There is no need for us to become involved with managed care networks.
I am not part of a managed care network:
Although I've thought about responding to the many "invitations" I receive, I've heard some horror stories about demanding records and holding payments.
Yes, 1-2 networks:
Managed care is a good option from a cost perspective; however, I find them very cumbersome to deal with regarding coverage, approvals, referrals and payments for non-standard things. I believe today's health care consumer seeks high-quality, low-hassle health care plans that allow for as much flexibility as possible, at reasonable prices (not necessarily the lowest cost).
Consequences for HIPAA violations can often be quite harsh. If someone has breached the HIPAA privacy regulations – even without any malicious intent, civil penalties are applicable: $100 per violation for unawareness, a minimum of $1,000 for reasonable cause, a minimum of $10,000 if willful neglect is present and then rectified, and finally, a minimum of $50,000 for individuals who act with willful neglect and ignore the issue.
The luo vessels are important in the treatment of mental health issues. They are conduits of “ying qi”: blood and fluids. We believe that the shen is “housed” in the heart and circulated through the blood, making a channel system that “conducts” ying qi ideal for treatment of the mind and emotions.
As our health care ecosystem continues to evolve, I’ve found an increased emphasis being placed on an integrative approach to patient care. As an acupuncturist, you are an essential part of this collaborative system and health care team, cooperating with a range of other professionals including medical doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, and others.
