Some good news for my practice
When I decided to try to start a private practice, I talked with a few people who were also in the throes of beginning their practices too. One thing someone mentioned was that they would not be participating with insurance companies for some pretty good reasons, but just charging really reasonable rates. I know there are some therapists who do this, and they do pretty well with this approach. However, despite having a website, getting some free advertising on our school's TRIP website, and dropping business cards to whomever would take them, there hadn't been any clients. No one had ever said that beginnning a private practice from scratch would be this difficult.

One of the therapists in the office where I have the practice suggested that the referrals come because the therapists participate with insurance companies. Not necessarily from the insurance companies, but perhaps from friends of theirs, or other therapists, and they're looking for someone who participates with their insurance company. I noticed this when I would talk with my potential referral sources, the question would always come up "what insurances do you take?" So I began the process of getting paneled/credentialed with insurers, which I've found takes a while, depending on the company. So far, I am now credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and Medicare just told me today they'll be sending me my provider information next week. I've talked with a couple of other companies, one told me "we'll send you a contract!" A couple of other companies stated either on their websites or over the phone that they're not credentialing any new social workers in Grand Rapids. So things are looking up for me right now. I remain optimistic....
- posted by Kristen @ 1/31/2006 08:58:00 PM