It's a simple truth: If you're a psychotherapist, and don't take insurance, you're missing out on many potential client referrals. And chances are you've lost some terrific clients who couldn't afford to continue in therapy without seeing a provider covered by their health plan. Whether you've thought about accepting insurance, you already work with a few companies, or you're an insurance "veteran," this is a must-have reference. Written by a psychotherapist with 14 years' experience working with more than 25 insurance networks, this practical manual won't gather dust on your bookshelf; you will use it again and again in your practice. In an easy-to-follow format, it answers all your questions about working with employee assistance, managed care, and traditional insurance plans. You'll get the latest information about the NEW CMS/HCFA-1500 insurance claim form released in July of 2006. The current form, used by almost all insurance plans, will not be accepted after April 1, 2007. The straightforward, line-by-line instructions to this essential new form are alone worth the cover price! Other topics include: Decoding the alphabet soup -- EAPS, HMOs, PPOs, POSs, and EPOs; common myths about working with insurance; becoming a preferred provider -- what they look for; ways to accept insurance without joining networks; how to get more referrals from insurance; why you should check a client's coverage, and the 12 crucial questions to ask; the pros and cons of accepting insurance: the secret to getting more sessions approved; parity, HIPAA, and the National Provider I.D. -- what all therapists should know; getting paid, filling out the new claim form, and tricks to speedy reimbursement; common billing practices that are actually insurance fraud; addressing confidentiality concerns; how to successfully appeal claim denials, and deciding if accepting insurance is right for you. It will answer all your questions, such as "will my treatment be mi

Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance -- And Whether You Should

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Barbara Griswold

Psychology & Counseling

Paper Street Press

Whether you've thought about accepting insurance, you work with a few plans, or would rather sell your soul than join an insurance network, this is a must-have reference. Even if you only give clients an invoice to give to their insurance plan, this easy-to-read manual will teach you what EVERY therapist should know about insurance.
In an easy-to-follow and entertaining format, it explores the myths and realities of working with insurance, and answers all your questions about working with employee assistance, managed care, and traditional insurance plans.
It promises to challenge what you thought you knew about insurance, and give you the knowledge to better help your clients, because what you don't know can hurt them -- or you. You'll be able to help your clients make informed choices about the risks and benefits of using insurance, and address their confidentiality concerns. At the same time you'll learn how to avoid making costly mistakes that might end up in a claim denial, and the 13 all-too-common billing practices that could jeopardize your license.
Using a case example, it takes you step-by-step through every detail of working with a client's coverage, giving insider tips for dealing with insurance companies (including how to get thorough to a person with a pulse when you call). You'll find useful forms including a sample invoice, treatment agreement, appeal letter, payment tracker, and a worksheet you can use when checking benefits. You'll also get line-by-line instructions for completing the new CMS-1500 claim form most plans now require, a comprehensive glossary of insurance terms, and pages chock-full of helpful resources.
Written by a therapist with 20 years experience with more than 20 insurance plans, this practical manual won't gather dust on your bookshelf -- you'll use it again and again in your practice.
Topics include: Ways to accept insurance without joining provider networks, Becoming a preferred provider: What they look for, The crucial questions to ask when checking insurance, The most common errors therapists make on claims, Tips for speedy reimbursement, The difference between EAPs, HMOs, PPOs, and POS plans -- and why you should care, Must you take discounts? Can you get raises? Will your treatment be micromanaged? Can you do long-term therapy? Can you client's insurance plan ask to see your notes -- even if she submits the bill? (the answer is yes), What you need to do when both members of the couple you are seeing have insurance plans? And a self-quiz: Is accepting insurance right for you?
After you read this book, you will have the answers to all of these.

Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working With Insurance -- And Whether You Should -- SECOND EDITION

LMFT

Whether you've just thought about accepting insurance, you already are a provider for some plans, or would rather sell your soul than work with insurance, this amusing and easy-to-read manual is the guide every counselor or therapist in private practice should have to understanding the ins and outs of the insurance world. Even if you never sign a contract with an insurance plan, you will use this practical guide again and again as a quick reference. Using a case-example, it takes you step-by-step through every detail of working with a client's insurance. You will learn invaluable tips and tricks, such as how to join insurance networks (even if they say they are full), how to get claims paid quickly and easily, how to avoid the most frequent and costly claims mistakes that lead to denials, what to say to plans so that you can get treatment requests approved, as well as 13 common practices that are actually insurance fraud. The book is full of worksheets and sample forms you can use in your practice, such as one with the 11 essential questions to ask when checking coverage, a sample invoice/superbill, sample appeal letter, authorization/payment tracker, private-pay agreement, and a sample completed claim form with line by line instructions. Other topics covered include the pros and cons as well as the myths and realities of working with insurance, getting raises, whether you have to become a HIPAA entity (you don't), parity laws, health care reform, the secret to getting more sessions approved, how to appeal claim denials, and addressing confidentiality concerns. Now in it's fourth edition, version of the original book is applicable to therapists in all states. Previous editions of this book received excellent reviews on Amazon, averaging 5 star ratings

Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working With Insurance (FOURTH EDITION, 2013)

A MUST-HAVE REFERENCE FOR ALL PSYCHOTHERAPISTS! NEWLY UPDATED AS OF OCTOBER 2015 WITH ICD-10 EXAMPLES, AND APPLICABLE NATIONWIDE! Whether you've thought about accepting insurance, or just want to understanding how to deal with your client's insurance plans, this book is for you. Even if you just give clients an invoice to submit to their health plan, there is much you need to know about what this can mean for you and your clients. With all the recent changes in the insurance field, it is hard to keep up. This easy-to-read manual will teach you what EVERY therapist needs to know about insurance, answering all your questions about working with employee assistance and private insurance plans. Topics include: * The new ICD-10 diagnoses and what you need to know to avoid denials * How to join plans -- even if they say they're full * Keeping the new client -- even if you are not on their plan * Getting paid: Insider tips for avoiding denials * The secret to getting more sessions approved * Is it possible to get raises? * Healthcare reform, parity and HIPAA * Will your treatment be micro-managed? * Complete instructions for the CMS-1500 claim form * 13 crucial questions to ask when checking insurance * 13 common practices that could cost you your license * How to successfully appeal denials * Is taking insurance right for you? Using a case example, this manual takes you through every detail of working with a client's coverage. You ll get line-by-line instructions for claim forms, and useful sample forms including a sample claim form, invoice/superbill, payment tracker, appeal letter, and form to use when checking benefits. REVIEWS: "I bought an earlier edition of this book when starting my practice 2 years ago. Since then with Barbara's guidance I've received 141 new clients. It also helped me win over $1000 of claims that had been denied." -- Dr Linda Koch "This is a great book. It is the GPS therapists need for navigating the insurance maze." --Jeffrey Zeig, PhD.

Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working With Insurance -- And Whether You Should (2015 SIXTH EDITION)

If you're a psychotherapist and don't accept insurance, you re losing clients who need to use their health benefits. Whether you've thought about accepting insurance, you work with a few plans, or would rather sell your soul than join an insurance network, this is a must-have reference. Even if you just give clients an invoice to submit to their health plan, there is much you need to know about what this can mean for you and your clients. This easy-to-read manual will teach you what EVERY therapist needs to know about insurance, and serve as your essential reference, answering all your questions about working with employee assistance, managed care, and traditional insurance plans. Topics include: 1) How to join plans -- even if they are full 2) Getting paid: Insider tips for avoiding denials 3) The secret to getting more sessions approved 4) Is it possible to get raises? 5) The most common mistake many therapists make 6) Will your treatment be micro-managed? 7) Keeping the new client even if you aren t on his plan 8) Complete instructions for the CMS-1500 claim form 9) 13 crucial questions to ask when checking insurance 10) 13 common billing practices that are actually fraud 11) How to successfully appeal denials 12) Is taking insurance right for you? Using a case example, this manual takes you through every detail of working with a client's coverage. You ll get line-by-line instructions for claim forms, and useful sample forms including a sample claim form, invoice/superbill, payment tracker, appeal letter, and form to use when checking benefits.

Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working with Insurance - And Whether You Should SEVENTH EDITION

Barbara Griswold, LMFT

Product Description 
If you're a psychotherapist and don't accept insurance, you re losing clients who need to use their health benefits. Whether you've thought about accepting insurance, you work with a few plans, or would rather sell your soul than join an insurance network, this is a must-have reference. Even if you just give clients an invoice to submit to their health plan, there is much you need to know about what this can mean for you and your clients. This new eighth edition has been updated to include how to bill for telehealth sessions, and documentation requirements for insurance plans. This easy-to-read manual will also teach you what EVERY therapist needs to know about insurance, and serve as your essential reference, answering all your questions about working with employee assistance, managed care, and traditional insurance plans. Topics include: 1) How to join plans -- even if they are full 2) Getting paid: Insider tips for avoiding denials 3) The secret to getting more sessions approved 4) Is it possible to get raises? 5) The most common mistake many therapists make 6) Will your treatment be micro-managed? 7) Keeping the new client even if you aren t on his plan 8) Complete instructions for the CMS-1500 claim form 9) 14 crucial questions to ask when checking insurance 10) Common billing practices that are actually fraud, 11) How to successfully appeal denials, 12) Is taking insurance right for you? Using a case example, this manual takes you through every detail of working with a client's coverage. You ll get line-by-line instructions for claim forms, and sample forms including a sample claim form, invoice/superbill, payment tracker, appeal letter, and form to use when checking benefits. 
 Review 
I bought this book when starting my practice two years ago. Since then with your guidance I have gotten 141 new clients. I could not have done this without your book. Your advice also helped me win over $4000 of claims that had been denied. I ask each of my interns to read your book and to buy a copy. Thank you so much! ----Dr. Linda Koch, Custer, MI\nThis is a great book. It is well written, well-organized, and clear. It is the GPS therapists need for navigating the insurance maze. ----Jeffrey K. Zeig, PhD, Director, The Milton Erickson Foundation\nI avoided this book for years. I have no idea why other than that it looked difficult. Was I ever wrong! After struggling with fears about insurance and fretting over stuff I heard through the therapist rumor mill (most of it wasn't true), I broke down, bought this book and have rested easier ever since. It's like sitting down with a patient, kind guidance counselor who walks you logically, step by step, through the maze, just as promised. Even if you don't take insurance it has useful information. I love this book! ----Amazon.com review of previous edition from Therapist, Sacramento, CA 
 About the Author 
Barbara Griswold, M.S., is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 30 years of experience as a provider for more than 20 insurance networks. In addition to her private practice in San Jose, California, she provides consultations (in-person, or via phone or email) to therapists nationwide with insurance questions and problems, and has presented to hundreds of therapist groups on the ins and outs of working with insurance. She has been interviewed on NPR s Morning Edition, and her articles have appeared in Psychotherapy Networker and The Therapist magazines. Barbara previously served as Orals Examiner for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, and on the Ethics Committee for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Barbara publishes a free monthly e-newsletter called What Every Therapist Should Know About Insurance. Check out her website at theinsurancemaze.com for more information.

Navigating the Insurance Maze: The Therapist's Complete Guide to Working With Insurance --And Whether You Should (EIGHTH EDITION 2020)

Mental Health

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