Question: Is there any way reflexologists can bill for their services under insurance?
Answer: Full Question:
I perform Reflexology at a Podiatrists office in Milwaukee, WI. and I am often asked whether reflexology can be covered by their insurance. Usually I have had to forfeit clients because my services are not covered by their insurance, and this becomes a little frustrating because I know that the doctor’s clients can benefit from my services.
Is there any way we as reflexologists (which is a form of physical therapy) can bill under insurance? Many of the patients are elderly and most are diabetic, so being able to bill for reflexology would benefit these clients as it would enable them to receive regular treatments.”
Answer:
In the past, I have been successful getting reimbursed by health plans by appealing directly to the case manager.
A few years ago, a friend asked me to help her get her Reiki treatments covered by the no-fault insurance provider covering injuries sustained during a motor vehicle accident. I sent a personal letter to the case manager of an HMO, and quite easily had the reiki reimbursed when they let me bill it under the massage therapy code.
Note: Before it became an accepted, billable modality, massage therapy treatments were billed as physical therapy.
Having a background in medical claims management, I understood the logic of case managers included cutting costs while getting the patient as healthy as possible as quickly as possible - especially when treating for injuries sustained from an accident.
My letter emphasized the benefits of the modality in question, such as stress reduction and reduced recuperation time and its ability to complement other treatments provided by modern medicine practices.
In my opinion, it would never hurt to write a personal letter to the groups who cover your patients and perhaps you may find some sympathetic individual case managers who can work things out with you.
Sincerely,
Warren Leggiere
Warren Leggiere is both an insurance professional and long time holistic practitioner. He is an internationally known consultant to the holistic community. As President of Holistic Benefits & Services, his path in life includes service to others as he "helps the helpers."
I perform Reflexology at a Podiatrists office in Milwaukee, WI. and I am often asked whether reflexology can be covered by their insurance. Usually I have had to forfeit clients because my services are not covered by their insurance, and this becomes a little frustrating because I know that the doctor’s clients can benefit from my services.
Is there any way we as reflexologists (which is a form of physical therapy) can bill under insurance? Many of the patients are elderly and most are diabetic, so being able to bill for reflexology would benefit these clients as it would enable them to receive regular treatments.”
Answer:
In the past, I have been successful getting reimbursed by health plans by appealing directly to the case manager.
A few years ago, a friend asked me to help her get her Reiki treatments covered by the no-fault insurance provider covering injuries sustained during a motor vehicle accident. I sent a personal letter to the case manager of an HMO, and quite easily had the reiki reimbursed when they let me bill it under the massage therapy code.
Note: Before it became an accepted, billable modality, massage therapy treatments were billed as physical therapy.
Having a background in medical claims management, I understood the logic of case managers included cutting costs while getting the patient as healthy as possible as quickly as possible - especially when treating for injuries sustained from an accident.
My letter emphasized the benefits of the modality in question, such as stress reduction and reduced recuperation time and its ability to complement other treatments provided by modern medicine practices.
In my opinion, it would never hurt to write a personal letter to the groups who cover your patients and perhaps you may find some sympathetic individual case managers who can work things out with you.
Sincerely,
Warren Leggiere
Warren Leggiere is both an insurance professional and long time holistic practitioner. He is an internationally known consultant to the holistic community. As President of Holistic Benefits & Services, his path in life includes service to others as he "helps the helpers."
