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

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