How to Arrange Supervised Psych Assistant Billing in Private Practice

[awagnerm]

I'm a postdoctoral psychology student working toward my licensure hours, and have been hired in a private practice in CA. I'll clearly be working under a supervisor, but have been having some trouble arranging to bill for my work (mostly individual therapy) through their insurance companies. I've called the insurance companies and they say they don't reimburse for Psych Assistants (which is what I'll be until I get my license). Has anyone been in a similar situation and know how to arrange the billing?

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[aequitasveritas]

for all going through this:

1. never speak to the insurance companies about this. Not a good idea. They are notified that you are the provider when the billing is handled so you don't need to notify them ur self.

2. Ur supervisor should be on top of this stuff like (insert metaphor)...they're prospering off ur labor..splitting fees. That you don't know some of this stuff and have to figure it out on ur own (OP) makes me worried.

3. Testing....not a good idea unless cash pay IM(experienced)O

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

There are definitely differences in medicare, medicaid, and private insurance billing. Being a psych assistant for assessment can be reimbursable when billed as a psych tech, which typically only requires a BA/BS degree. I can't speak to billing for therapy services, though I'd guess you'll have a harder time successfully getting reimbursed for talk therapy until you are fully licensed. Co-therapy may be an option, but in reality you wouldn't be billing for that time since your supervisor would submit the time under their license.

 

[aequitasveritas]

There are definitely differences in medicare, medicaid, and private insurance billing. Being a psych assistant for assessment can be reimbursable when billed as a psych tech, which typically only requires a BA/BS degree. I can't speak to billing for therapy services, though I'd guess you'll have a harder time successfully getting reimbursed for talk therapy until you are fully licensed. Co-therapy may be an option, but in reality you wouldn't be billing for that time since your supervisor would submit the time under their license.

In CA:

PA cannot bill for Medical but can for Medicare and Medi-Medi (combination of both). We also cannot bill for HMOs.

Individual talk therapy is much easier to get paid for and I have never had a problem. Billing comes in regularly and I have been paid for every session I have ever conducted (20+ a week at the moment). The ins. cos are notified that I am the provider yet it is processed under the license of my supervisor when the billing is conducted.

Testing....I do full assessments; not just testing. Supervisor co-signs.

 

[stigmata]

In CA:

PA cannot bill for Medical but can for Medicare and Medi-Medi (combination of both). We also cannot bill for HMOs.

Individual talk therapy is much easier to get paid for and I have never had a problem. Billing comes in regularly and I have been paid for every session I have ever conducted (20+ a week at the moment). The ins. cos are notified that I am the provider yet it is processed under the license of my supervisor when the billing is conducted.

Testing....I do full assessments; not just testing. Supervisor co-signs.

This is exactly how I had a PA in Ca. and it worked fine.

 

[awagnerm]

This is exactly how I had a PA in Ca. and it worked fine.

Stigmata - Were you also unable to bill for your PA's work through MediCal and HMO's? It seems like only being able to do Medi-Medi and PPO's would be pretty limiting (?).

 

[aequitasveritas]

Stigmata - Were you also unable to bill for your PA's work through MediCal and HMO's? It seems like only being able to do Medi-Medi and PPO's would be pretty limiting (?).

I'm going to speak out of place here😉. Actually HMOs are the exception and most people have a PPO. Not too many people have just Medical.