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OMA Medicine in Oregon Fall 2015

 Areas left open for more work from OMA and our legislative leaders include incentive programs for rural health providers, stronger immunization initiatives, and, as always, public health policies that protect our most vulnerable populations. OMA’s bills on administrative and payer simplification ended confusing and sometimes punitive payment practices affecting physicians and physician assistants, their staff and even large groups who receive reimbursements from insurance providers. HB 3021 Virtual Credit Card Transparency Over the last few years, OMA members reported an increase in insurance companies using virtual credit cards as a payment option to reimburse providers. Cindy Madden, the business manager of Baker Allergy, Asthma and Dermatology in SW Portland, had a problem with the hidden extra fees being passed on to the health care providers in the clinic. She testified on behalf of a specialty practice of four physicians, three physicians assistants and three nurse practitioners on HB 3021. “To receive the payment from the insurer, we had to pay the processing fees that were sometimes as high as 5 percent of the total reimbursement. Of course, that reduces our overall payment. We hadn’t been given notice of these fees, and opting out of this Drs. Jim and Diane Baker, owners of the Baker Allergy, Asthma and Dermatology Clinic, learn more about business manager Cindy Madden’s struggle with insurance companies using virtual credit cards for reimbursement. form of payment had been a hassle. At our clinic, we submit approximately 1,700 insurance claims per month and have 356 active insurance carriers we submit claims to on behalf of our patients. Figuring out how to avoid these fees was a nightmare,” said Madden. HB 3021 doesn’t take away a provider’s ability to accept a virtual credit card payment or prohibit the health plan from offering this type of payment, but it does set up clear expectations of the health plan and ensures provider flexibility in how they accept payment. “With the passage of this law, I feel like we have a choice, and we won’t have to waste valuable staff time going in circles around the issue. I can only imagine the relief and cost savings this will bring to clinics and groups who have dozens of providers that need to process reimbursements,” Madden said. w ww.TheOMA.org Fall 2015 15


OMA Medicine in Oregon Fall 2015
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