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INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT: Pros & Cons
One of the biggest issues that will face massage therapists in the next decade is insurance reimbursement. Few topics have polarized the profession like this one.
Some massage therapists believe that setting up a partnership with a big insurance provider will be the beginning of the end, so far as a therapist’s ability to “call the shots” about how he or she goes about his or her business.
Others believe that affiliating with a major health-insurance provider will significantly increase one’s potential customer base, one’s income and even one’s overall prestige as a health-care professional.
Which side is right? Well, the two articles following will help you decide. The pro-insurance story, “A Case For Insurance Alliances,” was written by David Munsey, a massage therapist in Connecticut who has had great success working with insurance companies. The anti-insurance article, “Insurance Partnerships Threaten Profession,” was written by Michigan resident David Frederick, who has many years of experience as both a massage therapist and an emergency room nurse.
We hope that the following two points of view will make our readers more informed about this controversial issue.
—The Editors
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A Case For Insurance Alliances
Setting up an arrangement with an established health-insurance organization can increase your revenue significantly.
By David Munsey
Being a provider for an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) or EPO (Elective Provider Organization) can be a profitable alliance for the massage therapist.
Let’s take an open look at this opportunity, and discuss the issues involved.
Massage therapy is a relatively young profession. If massage therapists are to gain the respect of other professionals, we must behave professionally, perform professionally and interact with other professionals in a manner that gains their respect.
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Insurance Partnerships Threaten Profession
Widespread insurance reimbursement will lead massage therapy to become a profession of excellent accountants and recordkeepers, but mediocre
bodyworkers.
By David M. Frederick
The intent of this article is to express my concern regarding insurance reimbursement (IR) for massage therapy. I base my concerns on 25 years of experience as a nurse, and 12 years of experience as a massage therapist. I have both professional and personal experience with the impact that IR has on delivering care. I believe that IR will negatively alter the profession, and will ultimately limit not only client/patient access, but also professional control. I am asking that the leadership of the American Massage Therapy Association do everything possible to
discourage this practice.
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