Happy Anniversary SB 899

Saturday, April 22, 2006 | 0

By York McGavin

The 2 year anniversary of SB 899 was April 19th. Yahoo!!!

Are the ERs happy?
Are the IWs happy?
Are the AAs and DAs happy?
Are the WCJs happy?
Are the psyche physicians happy?
Are the CAs and adjusters happy?
Are providers standing in line to join MPNs?
Are UR physicians happy?
Are there access-to-care problems?
Are there IWs who have gotten shafted by the new PDRS?
Are ERs returning to California in droves?
Are ICs returning to California in droves?
Are the QMEs happy?

What is the consensus of those who actually toil in the trenches --- on this reform package?

As a provider, I am thrilled. But then, that is because SB 899 woke me from my slumber and made me realize how expensive it is to be a treatment provider for IWs, and how high the 'hassle factor' is --- which in turn caused me to decide to simply drop out and shut the door to new IW referrals, in California.

Once I awoke from my slumber, and started marketing to providers who primarly treat individual/group health insurance patients, I am finding that my accounts receivable is dropping and my collections have increased dramatically. WCAB appearances are diminishing, and telephonic collections are financially rewarding --- as there are no more 10-cents-on-the-dollar offers.

Now, I get paid more, and I get paid quicker. I had forgotten how easy it is to get paid on individual/group health insurance patients --- particularly when compared to having to wait years before the case-in-chief resolves and I finally get my day in court.

For me, as a businessman, SB 899 was just what the doctor ordered --- I may never come back, even if the laws change. But then again, I will indeed miss the bloody sport of duking it out at the WCAB. Oh well, maybe I will sate my appetite for sport by assisting providers still in the system in getting paid, as a hobby.

Yahooooooooo

By York McGavin. York can be contacted at ymcgavin@socal.rr.com

-------------------

The views and opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of workcompcentral.com, its editors or management.

To go to this mesasge directly click on this link: http://www.workcompforums.com/ca/pro//messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=2882