Primary insurance claims that aren't needed

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drtmz
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Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 4:27 pm

Primary insurance claims that aren't needed

Post by drtmz » Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:38 pm

For some discount plans we contract with such as Careington the patient pays a discounted fee so we don't have to submit anything to the insurance plan. But in their account the individual procedures are listed as (unsent) and show up on a report.
How are other offices handling this?
I have found that if I generate a paper claim and then shred it the (unsent) is removed. But is there another better way. If I change the status to received, will that mess anything up down the line.
Thanks

Tom Zaccaria
V. 6.7.19.0

JimZ
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Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:16 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Re: Primary insurance claims that aren't needed

Post by JimZ » Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:57 pm

I would enter an Ins Payment BY TOTAL as "0". That shouldn't mess with anything else. You can even add a note as to why it's "0" if you feel it's necessary.

Jim

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jordansparks
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Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:59 pm
Location: Salem, Oregon
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Re: Primary insurance claims that aren't needed

Post by jordansparks » Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:12 pm

Right. That's an area that needs improvement in the future.
Jordan Sparks, DMD
http://www.opendental.com

cneelley
Posts: 114
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:49 pm
Location: Cypress, Tx

Re: Primary insurance claims that aren't needed

Post by cneelley » Wed Sep 16, 2009 12:47 pm

If it is a discount plan such as careington, then they do not have any insurance. Don't set up insurance for that patient. We have the careington fee schedule in open dental and just charge the patient that fee. Been doing it for years, works great, and this is how it should be done. A discount plan is not insurance. It is one of the big advantages to discount plans, no insurance to input or mess with.

Dr. Neelley

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drtech
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Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:44 am
Location: Springfield, MO
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Re: Primary insurance claims that aren't needed

Post by drtech » Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:19 pm

It would be better to use that discount plan fee schedule as a PPO insurance plan and then set the % as 0 for everything. That way it will keep track of the write offs for you and you can track how much you are giving away by using the discount...
David Fuchs
Dentist - Springfield, MO
Smile Dental http://www.887-smile.com

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