When Dealing with Insurers, Electronic Payment Tools May be an Otolaryngologist’s Best Friend

One otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon who continued with a successful fee-for-service practice until his recent semi-retirement is Stanley M. Blaugrund, MD, of New York City.

I have never aligned myself with the insurance companies, he said. Although he accepted Medicare because the older folks are entitled to a break, he only accepted cash from his other patients and got enough referrals to make it work.

The reality of most physician fee-for-service practices, however, is that today’s fee will be negotiated with insurance carriers. While otolaryngologists may have justifiable criticism regarding patient access to care or quality of service with managed care, issues with contracted rates, payment timeliness, and reimbursement accuracy appear to have workable solutions.

©2006 The Triological Society