By Dagmar Growe, LMT

Here in the US our economic system is unapologetically based on the tenets of capitalism: The maximization of profit and a free market to manage the distribution of resources. In many ways this works really well. Cousins of mine who lived under the planned economy of former Eastern Germany will assure you as much.

Massage therapy, the self pay kind, is a good example. Prices are based on a variety of things: The quality of massage and marketing skills of the therapist, and the economic makeup of the clientele. Are you working at an upscale spa in an affluent area, or in a small town with low wage jobs? Are you trying to fill your schedule, or trying to work less? Lower or raise your prices, and things will sort themselves out accordingly, at least in theory.

But there are some conditions under which this system is bound to fail. First, if a person's life depends on a product, like food, housing, or medical care, then they are forced to pay whatever the asking price is. This situation is more akin to blackmail than a free exchange of goods. We are seeing some of this with housing and pharmaceuticals.

Secondly, a functioning free market depends on multiple participants to allow for competition. Many areas have 1 or 2 insurance companies that dominate the local market. This lack of competition allows them to take an attitude of  "Take it or Leave it" with providers. And as we have repeatedly pointed out, in the name of  free market competition, individual providers are banned from uniting for the purpose of negotiating better pay. This puts big health care organizations at an advantage as they too have regional monopolies and can use those to negotiate individual contracts for their organizations. Unfortunately, non-allopathic care is not generally of interest to those organizations.

And finally, the insurance system puts multiple middle agents between the provider and the patient (aka the "consumer"). If I provide massages to self paying patients those  patients are my customers. They get to decide if my treatments are worth the price. Interestingly, if I provide a treatment under an insurance contract, that patient is no longer my customer, the insurance company is. And even more complex, the insurance company's customer is not my patient but the HR Department of my patient's employer. And in some way, the employee could be seen as the customer of their employer. This is where profit, or savings, maximization come in. The HR Department wants to buy a health plan for the lowest price they can get that still satisfies their employees needs to some extent. The insurance company calculates their prices to be competitive, while at the same time profiting as much as possible, meaning paying out as little as possible. Patient and provider actually have no relationship at all in an economic sense. The patient has to take whatever provider is contracted with the plan, and the provider has to accept whatever rates the insurance company offers or cancel their contract.. 

Where does that leave us? Any change needs to follow the convoluted path of market place relations. Once employees (who are allowed to organize) complain to their HR departments about the lack of an adequate network, then it could be hoped that HR departments would put pressure on insurance companies to improve their network. And if insurance companies cannot find sufficient providers at the rate they offer, then and only then would there be an incentive to raise reimbursement rates. Massage therapists keep asking the question: When will insurance companies increase their rates? And here is the answer: Why should they? They are for profit businesses, maximizing profits, which is exactly what their shareholders want them to do.

So what can we as providers do: First, we can refuse contracts that do not offer us a living wage. As long as a sufficient number (by whatever standards) of massage therapists are willing to accept current rates there is no need to change, from the perspective of the insurance companies. Being a contracted provider but limiting the number of patients one is willing to treat under a certain plan is both a contract violation under most contracts, and inflates the number of therapists available in a network. Secondly, we need to educate our patients why we are not accepting their insurance, both for financial and administrative hassle reasons. We need to encourage them to document their difficulty finding a provider, and complain to their HR departments and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) if they cannot get the care their health plan offers. Third, LMTs need to increase their level of political involvement. Most healthcare provider associations spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbyists. They get that money from their members who recognize the importance of having their interests protected. If you have been around long enough you may remember Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn who brought complementary care into the mainstream. She was elected with a lot of support from professional organizations. 

It is important to keep in mind  that everything will be a slow uphill battle every step of the way because the system is not meant to provide healthcare but to provide profit. But to do nothing means giving up on massage therapy as a healthcare modality being offered on par with other modalities. We have gained so much in the last 30 years - let’s make sure we don’t lose it.

And lastly, here is one piece of good news: As of the publication of this article - House Bill 1655 is being considered by the legislature. The bill recognizes that small groups and individual providers have no power within the system to negotiate reimbursement rates, and requires automatic cost-of-living increases. Please follow the bill’s progress and contact your legislator if the bill makes it to the voting stage. Watch your WSMTA mails for updates.

By Dagmar Growe, LMT

LMTs will likely see an increase in Uniform Medical insured patients looking for a United Healthcare provider. Premiums for Regence Uniform plans for retired members for 2023 have increased significantly so people are looking for cheaper options, one of which is United Healthcare. Please note that

• United Healthcare is separate from Regence. This means you have to apply to them to be a provider. It also means you should not expect that their reimbursement rate is the same.

• Some United Healthcare Uniform plans do not cover massage therapy. Uniform Medical is a self-insured plan. It is a trust fund for health care expenses financed by the State of Washington for its employees, rather than coverage bought from an insurance company. However, Uniform hires insurance companies to administer the trust fund. These plans are regulated by ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans). Because federal law supersedes state law, Washington’s every-category-of-provider provision does not apply to these plans. They may opt to provide massage therapy benefits or not, and they can apply additional rules which are not always clear. We know of at least one plan that offers benefits for acupuncture and chiropractic care but not for massage therapy.

• Some plans may offer the option of out-of-network benefits, allowing you to bill even if you are not a provider. This usually offers better pay because you have not agreed to the company’s rates. You can also offer to provide the client with a billing statement or receipt so they can apply for reimbursement if the plan allows.

• Remember HSAs (Healthcare Savings Accounts) and FSAs (Flexible Spending Accounts) . You can offer to accept payment through those if you are set up to accept credit cards. Make sure you are registered as a healthcare provider with your payment processor. 

As always, if you choose not to be a provider, educate the client about your reasons. I have found that most patients are appalled when I tell them what the insurance companies would pay me and how much work would be involved.

By Joshua Elan & Susan Rosen

Of course we have basic personal information and health history, and these days we have Covid policies. We've always had a bit about our office policies, but it was time to rethink what might have once been either too brief or overly convoluted.

In that spirit, we have been developing a document to clarify our framework of care goals. One primary concern is clarity of communication. One key element of communication is an explanation of what constitutes care, the LMT’s responsibilities and the patient’s responsibilities therein. Another vital piece is to make more clear the facts and expectations of insurance billing for those that are utilizing insurance.

Combining and clarifying our office policies into one more vital - and easy to read document has been a long time coming, and we hope you like the result. We are about to begin 'road testing' this new part of intake with patients, but it is not set in stone: we welcome your thoughts on how to make our intake paperwork process even better.

SRA Philosophy of Care Draft 5a - Google Docs.pdf

By Elizabeth Jane Brooks, LMT, BCTMB and Dagmar Growe, LMT

We at WSMTA hear many complaints from massage therapists regarding how difficult it is to make enough money to support themselves and their families through massage. As seasoned massage therapists, we would like to pass along some advice which we hope you will find helpful.

With massage there are basically two paths to earning money, working for someone else or working for yourself. Another way to look at it is, there’s the easier way and the harder way. Let’s examine the two paths.

The Two Paths

When we first graduate from massage school we have some knowledge but we are inexperienced. A great way to gain experience is to work for someone else, such as a clinic or a spa. They can send you a steady stream of patients, helping you to gain experience. This usually comes at the cost of low pay (anywhere from $15 to $40 per massage). Therapists that stay working in this type of arrangement tend to overwork trying to make ends meet. Many therapists become burned out or injured, and end up leaving the profession.

If the newly graduated massage therapist decides to work for themself, the struggle is in getting a steady stream of patients. However, if they are able to gain a few good sources for referrals to their practice, the income will be much higher than what is received if working for someone else. This, too, comes with the cost of having to learn all the behind-the-scenes work like setting up a business, advertising, purchasing, billing, taxes, etc., all at once and often in isolation.

For most therapists, working for someone else is easier at first, but in the long run it is more strenuous and less financially rewarding. While working for yourself requires an investment of time and energy that is not necessarily immediately rewarded, it eventually offers more freedom, flexibility, and income.

A good suggestion for someone just starting out would be to work for a clinic for 1 to 2 years and then branch out on your own after gaining some experience, because the best way to make a lot of money with massage is by working for yourself. It is not hard to learn how to manage your business but it does take time and steady devotion. Therapists who are willing to do their own scheduling and billing can operate a business at very low cost which means a high profit margin per massage. It does require a certain amount of entrepreneurial spirit and the willingness to manage fluctuating income. Paying for the training you need from those that have successfully created a busy practice, and investing in building one's skills to set oneself apart from the competition, are well worth the money. You will save steps and time, and make even more money than those trying to reinvent the wheel by learning everything on their own.

However, therapists who do not want to work for themselves do have options for increasing their income. Here are some examples:

1. Branch out and start your own practice part time.

2. Remain working for your employer and negotiate a raise for your work.

3. Get a job working at a high end spa, which normally pays better, plus, the tips are usually quite generous.

4. Charge for extras, like hot stones, arnica application, aromatherapy, herbal packs, etc., and negotiate with your employer that the income generated goes to you not the employer.

Where it All Leads

It is interesting to note that the entire field of massage therapy over the last 20 or so years has shifted from predominantly self-employment or independent contractors to employment. Some of this has been driven by legal changes, specifically enforcement of labor laws regarding independent contractor status. The medical field in general has seen a move towards larger clinics with employed providers - there are hardly any independent doctors or other providers left. What sets us apart from most of the medical field is the fact that our patients are more likely willing to pay out of pocket for our services. In addition, we do not need lots of staff and office space. 

However, if less of us are willing to take the risk of independence, if less of us are willing to fight for our profession, to engage and be involved with making the rules that determine our scope of practice and our rights to practice, if more and more of us are happy to let someone else handle these things for us - we may find one day that we will no longer have the opportunity to work on our own. Earning a good living with massage therapy may have become a thing of the past.

We hope this sparks a few ideas to explore and ends with you making the money needed to more than survive, but to actually thrive.

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) is conducting a Medical Insurance Survey to determine if they are maintaining an accurate provider directory of contracted, active licensed massage therapists in our state. This directory must be updated monthly and certified with the OIC that it is current and accurate in accordance with WA state law. This directory is also the foundation to know if there are enough credentialed massage therapists with current, signed contracts in each region of our state with each medical insurer. 

With the input of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC), the WSMTA is going to conduct a survey in November to check the accuracy of these directories. We need volunteers to help. There will be a brief training the first week of November via Zoom, volunteers will be given the entire month of November and part of December to call as many practitioners listed in the directories as they are able and they will document the accuracy of the information. The more volunteers we have, the more practitioners we can call, the more regions we can cover and a more accurate accounting will be gained. You will not need to travel to volunteer. Training will be done via Zoom. You will need a phone, computer and internet connection to participate in the project. Calls can be made in your free time. The project has a hard deadline in mid-December when your time will no longer be needed. You do not need to be a massage therapist to volunteer. If you know of anyone that may be interested in helping – clients, friends of massage therapy, retired parents, they are welcome as well. 

To volunteer or for more information, please contact Julie Johnson at jjohnson@myWSMTA.org with the subject “Volunteer for WSMTA Insurance Audit”.

If you are unable to volunteer for this project, you can still be an active participant in our efforts with medical insurance companies. 

-  Make sure your information in the Provider Directories is accurate and get it updated if necessary. 

-  Canceling your contract? This must be in writing and tell them WHY. If you do not cancel in writing, you are still considered a contracted provider.

-  Unhappy with your agreement, communicate and negotiate. Assume they need YOU. Don’t give up!

-  Unhappy Clients/Patients, tell them why you’ve stopped accepting the insurance or are no longer accepting new patients. Encourage them to contact their insurer. If they are experiencing a delay in their care or are unable to find a practitioner in their area, they should contact the OIC.  The OIC is there to advocate for the insurance consumer - not the practitioner -  not us. Until patients complain about their inability to get access to massage services, nothing will change. YOU need to explain this to them and ask them to act. They can also volunteer for our insurance survey. Have them contact Julie Johnson at jjohnson@myWSMTA.org. . 

-  Go forth and share this with all WA Massage Therapists!

Jane Brooks wrote an excellent article on Insurance Network Adequacy which inspired this insurance survey effort. 

For more information, visit WSMTA and our Clinical Practices Committee page.

By Robbin Blake

Currently, Monkey Pox (MPV) is in the news and WSMTA has received quite a few questions about it. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has a website page that provides very thorough information about the virus – you can see pictures of what it looks like, read about how and where it is spread and what to do if you are exposed. Fortunately, the virus has very defining characteristics and is mostly transmitted with direct contact. From the information on the DOH website you can create intake questions if you feel that you have the possibility to be exposed. If you feel that the person on your massage table may have MPV then do exercise your pathogen protocols that you have in place for handling linens the person came into contact with, disinfecting equipment in the room and washing your hands and forearms. As we are required to wear masks during massage still at this point, this protects against the smaller possibility of airborne transmission.

For details about the monkey pox virus, please see the following websites:

DOH: https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/monkeypox

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html

By: The Olympian

We highly recommend this article summarizing the Public Employees Benefits Board meeting and their decision not to terminate Uniform Medical Retiree plan, (which is currently administered by Regence BlueShield). 

It's an excellent illustration and inspiration of how collaboration and forging alliances between advocacy groups, patients, providers and other stakeholders can work. 

Stay tuned as CPP plans to consult with Laurie Weidner, executive director for the Retired Public Employees Council (RPEC) on strategies to forge such alliances.

Please click on the link below to read or to listen to an audio version.

https://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article263196203.html

WA retirees protest when PEBB tried to take away health benefits | The Olympian Weidner explained that the process required a lot of public engagement with the issue before the board committed to the resolution last week to postpone a decision on UMP until Jan. 1, 2024. www.theolympian.com

by Elizabeth Jane Brooks, LMT, BCTMB

Last month, WSMTA asked our members if they were turning away insurance patients. In response, 20% said no (with some saying they would like more) while 73% said yes. Of those who said yes, 33% said they terminated some or all of their insurance contracts. These results lead to a recent board discussion on network adequacy and how some therapists have unfounded concerns over not taking new patients.

To begin, what exactly is network adequacy?

In order for an insurer to deliver their members medical benefits, they are required by law to supply a geographic area with an adequate number of in-network providers capable of providing those services in a timely manner. To do this, they create provider panels: listed as directories of contracted providers. If an insurer can show that it has an adequate supply of providers, it will close their provider panel and no longer issue new provider contracts. Because of this, it is important to let the insurer know when you are not accepting new patients. If medical providers inaccurately report that they are accepting new patients, the insurer cannot accurately determine if there is a need for additional providers.

When there is network inadequacy, it’s common to hear patients complain about how long it takes to get an appointment with their healthcare providers—and we’re hearing this more and more. With the proliferation of narrowing health insurance networks, it is vitally important for us to be part of the solution.

Some participating providers are concerned that if they report being closed to new patients it will negatively affect them and their contracts. To be sure, this is not just an issue for massage therapists, but for all healthcare providers. However, this concern is unfounded. Reporting that you are not currently accepting new patients will not harm your contract or reflect poorly on you. Instead, it will have the opposite effect: it will show that you and your services are in demand.

Faulty information impairs the entire system. In order for insurers to provide their members with the required number of providers, it is imperative that they have accurate information so that they can properly determine their adequacy. Accurate reporting and frequent status verification, therefore, is a best practice that helps insurers both credential a sufficient number of providers for their members and allows newer practitioners to become contracted. It helps everyone.

With all the issues facing insurance in our industry, accurately reporting our status is one critical way we can both encourage and reward good insurance practice.

Upcoming Event: Register Today

WSMTA Annual Meeting. June 26 2022 -Empowering LMT's and Clinic Owners in an Insurance Dominated Environment.

EVENT DETAILS:

Please join us for the 2022 WSMTA Annual Meeting, including continuing education! 

This year we have chosen to meet once again via Zoom. We have realized that this format has allowed us to reach LMTs well beyond the greater Seattle/I-5 corridor areas, so we are continuing in an online format. 

This year's theme is:

Empowering LMT's and Clinic Owners in an Insurance Dominated Environment.  

We have a lineup of three very knowledgeable presenters.  Here are the logistics of the Annual Meeting:

Day:  Sunday, June 26, 2022

Time:  9:30 am - 2:30pm PDT

Where:  Zoom

CE Hours:  4 hours

John Conniff, Attorney:

John Conniff combines his broad background and practical knowledge to help clients find workable solutions to difficult problems. For over 25 years, he has counseled individuals, businesses, professionals, legislators, and government officials. In addition to running a law firm, John is a serial entrepreneur. He has owned or co-owned small businesses including Healthy Patients | Healthy Lives, providing business services to small health care practices and a multi-media company – JJP Media.

His wide range of experience provides him with insight into the complicated connections between business and law. He has worked extensively on employer issues, business contracting, insurance regulation, information privacy and security, health care regulatory

compliance, ERISA, and business transactions. John is a local attorney who has a decades long history with healthcare law and massage. He will be presenting on the topics of:

• Competition law and healthcare networks

• Antitrust and related business practices law

• Supply and demand (with regards to massage)

• Network adequacy and directory accuracy

B.J. Erkan, LMT:

While serving in the US military in 1990, B.J. hurt his back and experienced a musculoskeletal injury from the patient’s point of view. He was referred to a naturopath that had been previously trained in bodywork. Extremely skeptical at first, B.J. had a life changing, perspective shifting experience. Realizing he was meant for different things, he and his family moved to the Seattle area in 1991.

B.J. graduated from the Brian Utting School of Massage in 1994. Soon after being licensed, He had the opportunity to treat an MD with severe low back pain, and became known in the Kirkland area as a therapist who could effectively treat musculo-skeletal pain. In 1997 He began teaching massage anatomy and physiology at Bastyr University. In 1998 B.J. moved from Kirkland to Bothell and opened Bothell Integrated Health (BIH), LLC. Since then he and the BIH staff have given over 200,000 massages to people from Bothell and the surrounding areas. He also enjoys teaching CE classes to the BIH staff, and other therapists, and has taught, by request, at other medical massage clinics. BJ will be discussing:

• History and economics of the massage business and how this relates to the formula of price setting and the importance of the collection of data of actual overhead costs in a variety of settings. 

• The downside of signing contracts for low pay and how that affects the entire profession. 

• The power of “collaboration and solidarity” amongst massage therapists, massage clinics, massage profession associations and other allied professional associations.

• How to empower providers and our patients to create positive change in reimbursement rates.

Jane Brooks LMT:

Jane runs a private therapeutic massage practice dedicated to injury treatment and chronic pain relief. She is a board director with WSMTA, educator, writer, business consultant and the inventor of a patented seamless face cradle cover. As a seasoned therapist who has successfully navigated poor economic times, decreasing insurance rates, excessive demand for service, and Covid-19, she has a keen interest in helping others create their own sustainable and lucrative practice. Jane has been strategic in growing her practice to include multiple streams of income and moving from an insurance to a cash-based practice—all while charging premium prices, working fewer hours, and teaching others how to do the same. Jane will talk about:

• How to increase revenue and stability with your insurance based practice.

• How to transition from an insurance-based practice to a cash-based practice.

• Ideas for potential additional financial streams and strategies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Zoom attendance is 100 participants. We plan to record the meeting for later access and viewing.

 WSMTA Raffle Prizes for June 2022 Anual Meeting.pdf

by Dagmar Growe LMT

There is an ice axe on the wall above the row of cash registers at my local REI store. A sign next to it explains the significance: A bunch of decades ago, some NW mountaineers decided to band together so they could negotiate better prices for their equipment – like ice axes. I wonder if any of the folks involved imagined their little co-op becoming the retail giant it is today!

It is stories like this that I want to keep in mind when dealing with situations as frustrating and overwhelming as massage therapists’ struggles in dealing with insurance companies. We have written in the past about the problem with “negotiating” collectively: US antitrust law which was created with the goal of protecting consumers against large and powerful companies, in a perverse twist of circumstance, is now protecting large and powerful companies against consumers (who can’t find a massage therapist to work with them) and small business owners.

And yet, just like those ice axe purchasers we can still marshal the power of the collective in a legal way. A great example is the collective purchase of legal services. Some Regence contracted LMTs had concerns about the latest contract that was sent out a few months ago by Regence. A respected and highly experienced healthcare attorney, John Conniff, provided the Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) a legal review of the new Regence agreement We all know that legal services are expensive, and this lengthy contract and regulatory filings (228 pages) required many hours of work and resulted in a 13 page legal review  that details the commitments that therapists enter into, the inconsistencies, and the conflicts with Washington statutes that exist in the contract. If WSMTA was charging hundreds of dollars in membership fees per year like other professional organizations (Chiropractors, PTs) we would gladly make the review available as a membership benefit. Given our current membership price, we have to handle legal reviews like the ice axe guys: Everyone pitches in and we all win. The review will be available to members for $100 – the cost of 1 massage (well, not an insurance massage) If you are not currently a WSMTA member you can go to our website, become a member for $40 and then be eligible to purchase the review for $100.. Your payment helps us to continue to provide services like this in the future.

Now, of course, you wonder: why would you want to know everything that is wrong with this contract, as you don’t have the power to negotiate a different contract with Regence’s non-existing provider service. We will share one bit we learned from the review upfront: The contract states that it is a confidential document. Not true, according to Mr. Conniff, healthcare contracts like this have to be filed with and approved by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and then are placed on their website, which makes them public information. This means we can legally talk about the contract. You also might want to know which parts of the contract are legally enforceable, and which are not! And then, depending on your circumstances, you can make an educated decision on whether to sign or not, or if you already signed, if you want to cancel or not.

This is but one example of how LMTs can exercise  some power in a healthcare system that favors large companies. BJ Erkan, LMT and clinic owner will share more ideas at the upcoming WSMTA Annual Meeting on June 26. And the next time you go to your local REI store, look around:This is Power of Collaboration! Let’s make it our own power.

WSMTA Member Store Link 

Navigate to the Store from the navigation bar. Store is only visible and accessible to members. Be sure to login to access the Store

by Elizabeth Jane Brooks, LMT, BCTMB

Here at WSMTA, our goal is to promote and ensure the accessibility and financial viability of massage therapy as a reimbursed healthcare service and to provide resources to support practitioners. We have a strong desire to protect your interests and assist where we can.

Whenever we work with health insurance companies, use our computers for patients, work from our homes, or are injured on the job, there are some vulnerabilities that we’d like to bring to your attention—and their possible solutions.

Working with Health Insurance

In Washington State we are quite fortunate in being able to contract with health insurance companies. This is especially beneficial for our patients, as it can significantly reduce their out-of-pocket costs—and it is also great for massage therapists, as it may expand their practice and provide a steadier paycheck. For those early in their career, it can be of particular benefit: being in-network with an insurance company can bring many referrals, providing ample experience and filling your practice with new patients. Even experienced practitioners might use insurance as a stepping-stone, switching over to cash once they no longer need the referrals and demand allows for better pay.

However, working with insurance does have costs: lower rates, overworking, and post-payment audit risk. 

To work with insurance, we must sign contracts accepting a reduced rate for our services in exchange for the many referrals that come from being one of their listed providers. These referrals are a definite benefit, but we are not able to enjoy this benefit to the same degree as a physician, nurse practitioner, or physical therapist who can see numerous patients in any given hour. In contrast, our work is physically taxing and takes at least one hour with the patient on the table—with additional time for the patient to get dressed, take payment, and rebook; extensive cleaning and disinfecting; resetting the room for the next patient; charting/report writing and billing. Several of our WSMTA members estimate that for every hour of work on the table there is often roughly one hour off the table.

Consequently, for many practitioners the major advantage of contracting with health insurance is how the referrals give us greater job security. As we gain experience we build up long waiting lists, and often end up unsustainably working nonstop for these lower reimbursement rates in an attempt to keep up with the demand. Fortunately, some of these patients will turn into cash clients when they have exhausted their benefits, or when coming in for a non-covered service (such as relaxation or maintenance massage).

When we contract with health insurance carriers, we agree to post-payment audits where the carrier can request chart notes and supporting documentation going back, on average, 1–2 years, and occasionally up to 10 years. During an audit, insurance auditors review your chart notes to see if everything charted matches with the referral and all necessary information is on it. Should the audit show any discrepancies or missing information, you are asked to retroactively repay the monies for the particular charts in error. If a massage therapist has been charting incorrectly in some way for years, the repayment for the incorrect charts can be so costly that the therapist’s practice may not survive.

Post-Payment Audit Insurance

This potential is the reason behind the search for post-payment audit insurance, also known as medical defense insurance. While common coverage for a physician, it has been difficult to find for massage therapists because we are relatively new to billing health insurance. Washington is one of the few states that allow us to bill health insurance companies, but as massage is increasingly recognized as effective healthcare, more states are positioned to join us, and more insurance companies are hopefully coming on board soon.

With so few companies providing this coverage, the quest has not been easy. The author of this article, for example, spent over a year communicating back and forth with different insurance companies trying to convince them to cover massage therapists. These included ABMP, AMTA, MMIP, Hands on Trade, and many more companies less known to massage therapists. She eventually found an excellent insurance agent, Christina Haranda at American West Insurance Agency (listed in the resources below). Christina went above and beyond in finding the coverage we need. She found MEDEFENSE coverage through Tokio Marine HCC, which is protection for healthcare professionals covering exposures—such as billing error proceedings through both government and private payers, as well as HIPAA and other regulatory proceedings.

MEDEFENSE coverage includes reimbursement of defense costs, fines, penalties, shadow audit expenses, including qui tam actions (filing false claims for funds from the government programs), HIPAA proceedings, EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Advanced Labor Act) proceedings, and STARK (self-referral and anti-kickback law) proceedings. Coverage limits go up to $1,000,000 each claim and a policy general aggregate up to $5,000,000. The minimum deductible is $1,000 and there is a minimum premium of $1,200 for a one year policy. Full prior acts coverage is also available.

In short, MEDEFENSE covers the defense of an audit, but not any monies due to be repaid to the insurance company due to fraud, errors, and/or omissions. This coverage includes a shadow audit—an audit where you hire an independent auditor to go over your charts, which can reduce the amount needed to repay an insurance company. It will also reimburse legal fees, fines, penalties and the previously mentioned proceedings. It is expensive for the average massage therapist; however, in the event you are wrongly accused of fraud, errors, or omissions and the insurance carrier is asking for $25,000–$100,000, it would be money well spent.

Another suggestion is to hire an independent auditor to review your charts before you are audited—it can be especially helpful if you can find an auditor experienced with massage coding and charting. To find an auditor, many have found it helpful to search local hospitals or large clinics.

Cyber Liability Insurance

Tokio Marine also offers cyber liability insurance coverage which can be bundled with MEDEFENSE or purchased separately. Cyber insurance covers your business liability in case of a data breach of sensitive patient information—this can be a breach of any files containing personal identity information, health and/or financial records. Additional items covered are legal expenses, negotiation and payment of ransomware demands, plus restoration of data. It should cover both your business and third parties (i.e. your patients). Some questions to ask yourself to determine your vulnerability are:

• Do you email medical information?

• Do you keep any patient medical information on your computer, tablet, or cell phone?

• Do you keep any patient financial records on your computer, tablet, or cell phone?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, cyber liability insurance is worth considering.

Homeowners & Renters Insurance

There are quite a few LMTs that work in their homes rather than in a business office space. Some insurance companies have a problem with this, as the lines between what is business and what is personal can become blurred, potentially increasing claims. In these situations, the insurance company is concerned with patients injured on the premises pursuing both our business liability insurance and our homeowners/renters insurance, and because of this it can be difficult to find coverage for these circumstances. Thankfully, the following insurance companies are favorable to those of us that work from home (sometimes through an additive “umbrella” policy): MetLife, Travelers, Country Financial, and in some cases Allstate.

Disability Insurance

Disability insurance can be difficult to find as a massage therapist because the injury rate is significant in our field. However, Crump Disability Solution Center has stated they have carriers that will cover massage therapists, including Assurity and Mutual of Omaha.

Should you be unable to work for a period of time due to illness or injury, most disability insurances pay between 50–70% of your pre-disability gross salary. For therapists with S-corporations, it will be important to check if their passthrough income can be included. 

To be covered, most plans require a minimum of a 30-hour work week to qualify, which for massage therapists can be made up of such things as massage, cleanup, setup, billing, education, and purchasing supplies. With this minimum met, costs will depend on a variety of factors such as age, health, and income. 

Some questions to ask yourself:

• How long can I manage my monthly expenses without my paycheck?

• Do I have personal savings or a retirement plan I can dip into if needed?

In Conclusion

WSMTA is providing this information for you to consider for your protection and that of your business and patients, along with some possible resources. If you are aware of other resources, please send them to us at info@mywsmta.org.

Resources

Medical defense, cyber liability, homeowners/renters, and auto insurance:

Christina Haranda

206.218.8980

christina@americanwestins.net

American West Insurance Agency, Inc. 

Medical Defense:

Tokio Marine MEDEFENSE Plus

Cyber liability insurance: 

Travelers Cyber Insurance

RPS (Risk Placement Services) 

Tokio Marine Group 

Umbrella insurance: 

Travelers

Liberty Mutual

Homeowners/renters insurance: 

MetLife/Farmers 

Travelers (homeowners)

Travelers (renters)

Country Financial (homeowners)

Country Financial (renters)

Allstate