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Settlements

Waiting for disputed workers-comp and motor vehicle accident reimbursement may cost you plenty

How many times have you been asked to hold off on billing a patient because their lawsuit will pay for your services? Hopefully not too many. In most cases, there is no reason or obligation for you to wait for payment while a suit is filed and argued. Although some suits may eventually come thru (years later) and pay your full fee, many will never result in payment to you. Unfortunately, many physicians patiently wait for payment only to find out later that the patient settled the case and never paid up on their medical bills. Or, the case was dropped and the patients forwarding address is no longer valid.

Many so-called “workers-comp” cases fall into this category. The patient is suing the company for a claimed work-related injury or illness, and the company denies liability. Unless the patient can produce a document that states that they have a valid workers-comp claim and assigned case number, odds are that there will never be a payment from the employer or insurance carrier.

Motor vehicle accidents are also legal situations that the physician need not be involved in for reimbursement. The best policy in any of these lawsuit situations is to collect at the time of service and provide the patient with any documentation they may need for their lawsuit.