Turn and Face the Change

by Ray Foxworth, D.C., FICC, MCS-P

President & Founder, ChiroHealthUSA

David Bowie was not singing about healthcare, but maybe he should have because nothing ch-ch-ch-changes as often as healthcare rules and regulations. At ChiroHealthUSA, we always strive to make those changes and transitions as smooth as possible for our providers and the patients who depend on us. So, what changes are talking about?

HIPAA

Recent changes to privacy rules now require patients utilizing CHUSA to sign a ChiroHealthUSA HIPAA form. We let everyone know this change was coming in January 2020, and now it is here. This form informs your patients that their personal information on the ChiroHealthUSA membership form will be protected. The new HIPAA form is now available for download on your provider resources page. You’ll see a checkbox about the HIPAA form during online enrollment. As you complete the enrollment, you will see a pop-up box verifying that the form has been signed. You will not be able to proceed with the enrollment unless the patient has completed the form. Please add the signed form to the patient’s file along with their completed and signed membership application.

Patient Consent

We have also updated the patient enrollment form to include a consent box that allows patients to indicate whether we may communicate with them about their memberships. This will allow us to assist with the renewal process as requested by over 90% of our providers. When the NO box is checked, no electronic communications will be sent to the patient from ChiroHealthUSA. Again, there are checkboxes during online enrollment where you can indicate their preferences and pop-up boxes to verify the selections. Effective March 6, if you have any previous versions of the ChiroHealthUSA enrollment form, please discard them and use the appropriate revised form available for download on your provider resources page. The number one request we receive from our doctors is for help with the renewal process, and this is the first step in making that happen!

Patient Membership Cards

In the past, if you did not print a copy of the patient’s membership card at the time of enrollment or renewal, there was no way to reprint it at a later date. With the updates of these new forms, we have also added a PRINT CARD button. Additionally, you can also print a patient’s full membership packet for those patients who would rather not wait to receive them by email or through USPS. You can also do this with any patient who requests a packet. You’ll find a PRINT PACKET button next to your patients’ names on your list of patients in the online enrollment portal.

Taking Compliance to the Next Level

As you begin the new year, keep in mind that OIG investigations have resulted in over 450 criminal and civil actions against providers, including chiropractors, and brought over $1.3 billion to the federal government in 2019. The feds have asked for an additional $20 million for 2020 to fight Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse. It may be time to consider outsourcing your compliance and adding a safety net to your malpractice coverage. CHUSA providers receive a 50% discount on ChiroArmor as well as premium discounts on CHUSAdefense policies. To request, a quote for these two must-have products for a more compliant practice click the links below:

▶︎ Request a Quote for ChiroArmor

▶︎ Request a Quote for CHUSAdefense

Finally, we are working to negotiate the best pricing for our network of providers. This newsletter is the official launch of your Member Benefits page. This month we are spotlighting Cash Practice. Click here to learn more about this and other benefits for your practice.

For over a decade, we have been committed to working hard for our providers and their patients. This year we are expanding the free training opportunities for you and your team and helping to attract more patients to your offices (more about that coming soon)! Thank you for being a part of the Network that Works for Chiropractic!