SAVE PHYSICAL THERAPY

Insurance Drives Physical Therapists out of Business
HIP/EMBLEM insurance announced major cuts in reimbursement for Physical Therapy while increased salaries and bonuses for its executives. The action may threaten private practice Physical Therapy in New York State.
New York, NY (PRWEB) 22, April, 2009 HIP/EMBLEM insurance announced to its Physical Therapy participating providers a 20% reduction in reimbursement rates to be in effect May 1, 2009. Physical Therapists who do not agree with the reduction will be expelled from the provider panel. It appears that such a decrease in reimbursement serves to offset HIPs deficit for the new salaries to its officers: The New York Sun on 4/22/2008 reported that Anthony Watchon president of HIP doubled his salary to $4.79 million (FYI -- $4.79 million is enough to provide healthcare for twelve months to nearly 1,400 people at $3,500 each). The newspaper stated: This is just a foretaste of what will happen if the state allows it to convert to for-profit corporation.

HIP has already been amongst the insurance companies with the lowest reimbursement rates to Physical Therapy and other medical services. If this reduction comes into effect it will trigger further reductions by many other insurance companies in New York State, leading to the extinction of private practice physical therapy.

At the same time, this reduction in reimbursement to Physical Therapy services will lead to a significant compromise of the quality of service of patients. Simply said, physical therapists will have to see many more patients per hour to accommodate for this change in reimbursement which will lead to a substandard service.

When HIP/GHI sought approval for the change to for profit status, they promised to the people of NY and especially their members that: Conversion to for-profit status will not affect service to our members, their access to doctors, their benefits, or the levels of service that they currently receive. Over time, as new products and services are introduced, members should see greater flexibility in types of coverage, more choice in benefit plans, and more customer-driven innovations that improve access to care. It is obvious that this promise has been broken because with such low reimbursement rates the level of service to the members will definitely be affected.

Many physical therapists in New York are already dropping out HIPs panel, while others have filed complaints with the Attorney Generals Office and the State Insurance Commissioner.

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[fatrenboy]

If you cant beat them, join them.?

I gave up with this profession after 10 years in private practice, and moved into the actuarial field. Now, I help decide how much to pay physiotherapists, rather than be a physio and let actuaries decide how much to pay me.

[buff0266]

When is enough, enough? Here is an example of yet another corporate executive, filling his pockets on the backs of the poor working class people of this state. I bet Mr. Watson gets all of the top shelf Medical & Physical therapy he needs. The taxpayers are probably paying for it too! It has become all too common place for these corporate snobs to take advantage of their positions and perks while the common man suffers. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY! STAND TOGETHER AND FIGHT THE CORPORATE GREEDY !

[april1218]

Let's all work together to fight the insurances and help SAVE physical therapy....DKNY