Private Practice

[pain buster]

starting private practice with boards pending.How it will affect practice in terms of provider enrollment,referrals,advertising etc.

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[Mister Mxyzptlk]

It shouldn't affect you much. "Board-eligible" is enough for privileges just about anywhere. I don't know if any carriers require subspecialty board certification or board-eligibility in pain. It doesn't look like it to me. As for referrals, doctors understand about being recently out of training and not having boards yet.

The only snag might be advertising. The state board might have problems if you're not certified. Sometimes it's a matter of wording. They might not allow "specializing in pain management" (if you're not boarded you're not a specialist) but they might tolerate "pain management". I have seen the Texas board reprimand people for advertising that they specialize in "invasive pain management" since there is no such specialty. OTOH, TMB is a special case because they have been so draconian that TX docs have revolted and demanded an investigation into their practices.

 

[Tenesma]

three carriers now have required that i demonstrate board certification in pain - they weren't specific where that board certificate came from, though..

 

[ampaphb]

three carriers now have required that i demonstrate board certification in pain - they weren't specific where that board certificate came from, though..

yes, but since you wont name the carriers, or even tell us where you practice, that is not verifiable, or terribly helpful.

 

[Tenesma]

carriers: First Health, Aetna, Cigna ---

location: North East

 

[ampaphb]

carriers: First Health, Aetna, Cigna ---

location: North East

anyone else have difficulty with Aetna or Cigna? We have not, so I am curious if this is a regional, state-specific, or even more localized than that. I am not familiar with First Health, but the other two have not raised this as an issue in the southeast

 

[Tenesma]

i think it also depends on the concentration/number of pain physicians - and maybe they are using the board certification question as a way of limiting their panel?

 

[jsaul]

carriers: First Health, Aetna, Cigna ---

location: North East

for some reason, i thought you were in the palmetto state

 

[Tenesma]

that would be nice - i ain't too happy about the weather up here.