Comments About Pricing

On the survey of private practice therapists related to pricing/fees, we also asked therapists to share their comments about the topic. Here were some of the responses:

• "The cost of doing business is increasing, so even if the dollar amount of income hasn't changed, there is still a decrease in real income."
• "We have to continue to work harder for less money. Insurance companies are less antagonistic, but still cautious in giving money."
• "Tricare has reduced their rate of pay, which has counteracted my increased business."
• Comment: "Only my pie-in-the-sky wish that insurance would use the same universal pricing and forms and processes. And that it would be a reasonable fee. Sigh."
• I have considered going to a cash payment only, letting the clients complete the insurance paperwork, to decrease my time doing paperwork and billing, but I'm not sure doing this would work. I could reduce my fees this way and simplify my practice, leaving more time for therapy hours. In terms of pricing, I don't really have a standard fee since insurance plans pay differently. I reduce my fee for people who are financially strapped and I also do some pro bono work."
• "Transportation has been a large issue for low income clients, which means cancellations and 'no shows.'"
• "I do some pro bono (work) and also lower my fees for those without insurance, so I really don't have a "standard" rate, nor have I calculated my average fee."
• I would hope that APPT and others across the nation would stand up to managed care companies and let them know with our education and licensing, we do not deserve to be paid less than our mechanics working on our cars!! Even the heating/plumbing tech and the man who cleaned our carpets made more than we as LIMHPs make per hour! Pretty sad, huh?"
• Nebraska has a new law regarding not reimbursing provisional psychologists have made it nearly impossible to attain enough hours or income (forced to take sliding scale as low as $10!) to remain a psychologist in Nebraska.
• "I think it would help if fees were standardized somehow. Also, it would be great if there were some way to provide services for those who are low income or uninsured that did not put us at risk for claims of insurance fraud. We really need some way to have a legal and appropriate sliding fee scale when in private practice."
• "Tricare rates have plummeted the past two years and are now below the reimbursement level for both Medicaid and Cigna."

If you are interested in learning more about how to utilize a charity clause with your clients (to be able to work with clients who have difficulty paying, without running afoul of insurance regulations), be sure to attend the APPT Fall Conference on Friday, Nov. 7 and attend the breakout session with an attorney from Erickson & Sederstrom, who will address this issue.