CA CORNER
More information from the July/August Issue of The Journal: The questions was: If my patient pays his copay at the time of service but his insurance later applies less than that amount to his responsibility, do I have to refund the difference?
To keep these credit balances to a minimum, it's a good idea to know the insurance company's fee schedule and only collect the allowed amount from the patient if his copay is more. This can be tricky since insurance companies can have more than one fee schedule depending on the insurance plan. If it's not practical toestimate the allowed smounts at the patient's early visits, you should t least do it once the insurance has procedded the claims and you know the allowed amounts for that patient's plan.
If you are not contracted with the insurance company, the difference between what you billed and the insurance allowed amount will always be the patient's responsibility so a refund might not be due. However, if the combined total of the insurance and patient's payments is more than you billed, you must refund the over-payment to the patient.
As a chiropractic assistant (CA), you will play a vital role as a part of the overall practice team. The Chiropractor leads your team by creating and enforcing policies to make the practice efficient and effective. As a staff member, you are responsible to implement these policies in your daily work. As a team, the doctor and staff members all work to accomplish the common goal towards the success of the practice as a whole.
As a CA, you are called upon to perform numerous tasks in the office; however, the Chiropractor is responsible for all final decisions. In order for the office to run smoothly, the doctor and the CA must work together as a team.
A CA is always willing to take on all duties and be loyal to the doctor, the practice and the profession.
