Here are answers to frequently asked questions which will aid your understanding of the new SecureCare of Florida IPA and how it can benefit you and your practice:
What is an Independent Physicians Association?
An Independent Physicians Association (“IPA”) consists of a panel of
physicians who contract with health plans to provide complete care to members
of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO).
In this circumstance, it is a panel of chiropractic physicians
contracting to provide chiropractic care.
What are the benefits of an IPA? One of
the most significant functions of an IPA is to develop productive relationships
with health care insurers. An IPA is
beneficial to physician practices because it is able to professionally
represent the business interests of many doctors, allowing doctors to focus on
their practice. It discusses contracts
with insurance companies, organizes, represents, credentials, and inspects
member physicians. It also conducts
utilization review and quality assurance.
In sum, the IPA offers its members the advantage of strong physician
leadership with the drive to develop an improved business environment for the
doctors they represent.
What is SecureCare of Florida? It is a
collaborative venture between the FCA and the highly successful SecureCare,
Inc., a company managed primarily by chiropractic physicians and owned by the
Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association.
Why is FCA starting an IPA? It is time
for the chiropractic profession to improve its position in the health care
system. Virtually every other segment of
health care in Florida is already organized into IPAs, PHOs or other business
entities. So, we are actually simply
playing catch-up with the rest of the health industry.
What is the objective of SecureCare of Florida?
SecureCare of Florida’s objective is to build new collaborative
relationships with insurance companies.
SCFL will offer insurance companies an alternative to the expensive and
outdated network solutions offered in the market today. Highly complex and labor intensive network
management structures are a thing of the past:
they inhibit patient care; they are by definition expensive for
insurance companies; and they result in dissatisfaction for employers, patients
and providers. SCCFL is owned by its
doctor members and will provide its services to insurers at no cost.
What is SecureCare, Inc.? SecureCare,
Inc. is a chiropractic managed care company owned by the Nebraska Chiropractic
Physicians Association. SecureCare, Inc. has been serving insurance companies
for over 20 years and 98% of Nebraska DCs are happy, appreciative participants. SecureCare, Inc. has a highly effective
network management process that gives insurance companies the cost control they
need while also allowing providers to be appropriately reimbursed while
providing quality care for patients. It
is possible to do this! And SecureCare
has perfected it. SecureCare is
different because it is not profit motivated.
The SecureCare model works and
has quietly proven itself in multiple states.
How does this impact me? The FCA is
asking its members to join the network.
Your participation is essential to its success. By participating, you will begin the process
of forming a network of chiropractic physicians and, for the first time in Florida,
organizing the profession as it relates to health care reimbursements.
How do I benefit? The goal of SecureCare
is to provide more access to chiropractic benefits through fair utilization
guidelines that are based on average services of providers in the network and
not on arbitrary limits. SecureCare’s
business model has a strong track record of improving the business environment
for chiropractors over time, with a proven track record of higher reimbursements and removal of arbitrary limitations.
What is required to join SunCare Health IPA?
Joining the IPA takes three easy steps:
(1) Make sure you are an FCA member; (2) get the benefit of a rich, easy
to use, interactive user clearinghouse/electronic claim submission with
Infinedi that will allow the IPA to help manage the members and to allow you to
properly manage your billing; (3) sign up with SunCare Health through the
Infinedi/SecureCare enrollment process.
Why should I join early? Taking control
of your future and getting SecureCare of Florida off the ground requires your
membership NOW and not LATER. Waiting to
join the IPA will not make the IPA a success.
It requires a critical mass of approximately 500-750 members before we
can expect to be taken seriously by a payer.
Signing up early provides the benefit of making sure you can be a part
of the IPA and also provides a discount.
Why pay a joining fee to SecureCare? Here
are just a few of the reasons:
(1)
The fee allows SecureCare to focus on your best interest. SCFL could simply charge big insurance
companies a fee as other networks do, but, then it would be working for them –
not you.
(2)
The fee is necessary to remain compliant with complex laws related to rebating
and fee splitting.
(3)
The fee is used to pay for initial costs to connect you to the network (such as
Infinedi’s initiation fee, credentialing fee, etc.).
(4)
All doctors in all SecureCare markets pay the same $2,000 fee and it has
remained unchanged for 20 years.
(5)
The fee may be paid monthly, interest free over two years at $83.33 per month.
(6)
It is a small investment you make in the future of your practice and the
profession’s future.
(7)
The alternative to investing in your own network is to accept the current
options in the market, none of which have produced a favorable professional
outcome for you.
How do I request more information and start the process? Visit the SecureCare web site and click on "Learn More About SecureCare." Or use this convenient, secure online sign-up process that will take just minutes to complete!
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