How many patients when you first start SOLO?

[tony montana]

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Hey


I know it takes about a month to become a provider for insurances and Medicare/Medicaid and that it takes 4-6 months to receive your first reimbursement payments.

But onces that's taken care of, how many patients can you expect to see each month?

I know it has to vary with one's location, but is there a way to have a rough/working idea?

Thanks in advance.

Tony

 

[Dr McSteamy]

i bet you could see a good number after you get added to insurance directories and phonebooks.

most people just flip a phonebook and pick the dude with the biggest ad

 

[Doowai]

Hey


I know it takes about a month to become a provider for insurances and Medicare/Medicaid and that it takes 4-6 months to receive your first reimbursement payments.

But onces that's taken care of, how many patients can you expect to see each month?

I know it has to vary with one's location, but is there a way to have a rough/working idea?

Thanks in advance.

Tony

Will you occupy a special niche or just do what most other FP's do? THe nice thing about going into practice out of residency is you could have a grand opening in September or so - which means most peoples deductibles are met and they are more likely to go to the doctor compared with seeing a doctor in January when they have new deductibles they have to pay out of pocket.

If you electronically bill Medicare, you get paid just a few weeks after submitting - at least that was my experience last time I billed Medicare.

 

[tony montana]

i bet you could see a good number after you get added to insurance directories and phonebooks.

most people just flip a phonebook and pick the dude with the biggest ad

Yeah, I guess those two are the major sources of new patients for a new practice.

I just wonder what the patient volume would be from month 1- 24 on the first year?

Anyone has had any such experience?

Will you occupy a special niche or just do what most other FP's do? THe nice thing about going into practice out of residency is you could have a grand opening in September or so - which means most peoples deductibles are met and they are more likely to go to the doctor compared with seeing a doctor in January when they have new deductibles they have to pay out of pocket.

If you electronically bill Medicare, you get paid just a few weeks after submitting - at least that was my experience last time I billed Medicare.

Just regular FP to start.

That's nice to know about medicare.

I'm concerned about being able to make ends meet those first 1 - 24 months. I'm planning to have funds to cover the basic costs the first six months, just wondering what patient volume to expect.

Any more ideas?


Thanks

 

[Doowai]

Yeah, I guess those two are the major sources of new patients for a new practice.

I just wonder what the patient volume would be from month 1- 24 on the first year?

Anyone has had any such experience?





Just regular FP to start.

That's nice to know about medicare.

I'm concerned about being able to make ends meet those first 1 - 24 months. I'm planning to have funds to cover the basic costs the first six months, just wondering what patient volume to expect.

Any more ideas?


Thanks

any idea what your projected overhead is?

I liked medicare as a chiropractor - many of my colleagues hated it. But the deductible is low and reimbursement is consistent and predictable. If you bill electronically, at least when we last did it in 2005 - if you don't have everything in order it won't transmit. I often got checks a week after billing. I got audited 4 times, and had less than $100 denied (this is as a chiropractor mind you) - since my documentation was pretty good (for a chiro)

 

[Doowai]

Are you planning on moonlighting in urgent care or something the first year?

 

[tony montana]

any idea what your projected overhead is?

I liked medicare as a chiropractor - many of my colleagues hated it. But the deductible is low and reimbursement is consistent and predictable. If you bill electronically, at least when we last did it in 2005 - if you don't have everything in order it won't transmit. I often got checks a week after billing. I got audited 4 times, and had less than $100 denied (this is as a chiropractor mind you) - since my documentation was pretty good (for a chiro)

$1000 - $2000 monthly overhead is my projection


Accepting medicare sounds like a good idea, sounds like a quicker return on the service provided.

Are you planning on moonlighting in urgent care or something the first year?

I am hoping I don't have to.

Thanks for helping.

 

[MOHS_01]

$1000 - $2000 monthly overhead is my projection


Accepting medicare sounds like a good idea, sounds like a quicker return on the service provided.





I am hoping I don't have to.

Thanks for helping.

Overhead projection is WAY low... rent will cost you that much, or more.... it's not an easy world out there, you have to work and churn if you want to keep the lights on and pay back your student loans.

 

[deleted87716]

Overhead projection is WAY low... rent will cost you that much, or more...

You're not going to see overhead that low unless you do something like Gordon Moore ( http://www.aafp.org/fpm/20020300/25goin.html ). Even then, I think $2K/mo. is optimistic, unless you find a deal like he did (he basically rented a single room in somebody else's office).

 

[tony montana]

Overhead projection is WAY low... rent will cost you that much, or more.... it's not an easy world out there, you have to work and churn if you want to keep the lights on and pay back your student loans.

In the area I am interested in, there are a good number of 400 +/- sq ft medical offices for rent in the low five hundreds per month.

400 sq ft is not huge but it's big enough for a modest start I think.

 

[DrJosephKim]

It really depends on your setting (rural/urban/suburban/etc.); how many other docs are in your area; and how you market yourself.