ACTION ALERT – Help Pass Senate Bill 591 To Increase Behavioral Health Provider Reimbursement

by | Mar 25, 2021 | Front Page, Press Release, Uncategorized

Action Alert Help Pass Senate Bill 591 To Increase Behavioral Health Provider Reimbursement What You Can Do: Read below for background about this important bill and spread the word to your staff, colleagues, and clients.Prepare your testimony now in case we get short notice of the hearing (see below for tips for testimony). You do not need to send your testimony until the hearing date has been posted. We will keep you posted.Recruit consumers to testify. Consumer voices are powerful and carry a lot of weight. About This Bill: Senate Bill 591: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText21/SenateText21/S0591.pdf  The Mental Health Association has partnered with Senator Miller to introduce Senate Bill 591, legislation to incrementally increase reimbursement rates to behavioral health providers over five years. It also requires OHIC to examine rates annually after the initial five year period. The aim is to achieve reimbursement parity between behavioral health providers and their counterparts on the medical side of insurance plans. The lack of pay parity, as it currently exists, is a violation of mental health parity law.  This legislation would affect public (Medicaid) and private (commercial) insurers and therefore carries a fiscal note for the State, who contributes toward Medicaid claims.  Opposition to payment parity has historically come from the insurance industry and the small business lobby–both powerful influencers on the House side. We are hoping that the pandemic and its documented toll on mental health has raised awareness about the importance of access to early treatment.  Representative Craven introduced similar legislation on the House side. His version of the legislation is slightly different and had less community input. We had very short notice...

If You’re In Private Practice, You’re in Sales

by | Aug 29, 2016 | Front Page, Uncategorized

 If you want to own a successful private practice, you must learn to sell.  Learning to sell doesn’t mean getting people to buy used cars or encyclopedias.  Learning to sell means that you get good at helping your customer (referrer) understand and overcome fear. Many therapists are very uncomfortable with the whole idea of selling.  Somehow it doesn’t quite feel ethical or professional to them.  I think the word “sell” seems like just another 4-letter word – something we should avoid.  It’s just a word. Think about it this way – if you believe that you are truly meant to help others, you have a responsibility to let them know that you are there for them.  You might be the best therapist in the world, but if those who need you don’t know whom you are, where to find you, or how to do business with you, you can’t help them. So, from a business perspective (acknowledging that your desire to help others is very important to you), consider the following lessons when it comes to getting more clients for your private practice. Most people have a fear of buying:  people like to buy, but they hate to be sold! Your conversations and stories should help people to understand that you have benefits they want and need so they will want to BUY from you When you hear “no” from your prospective clients or prospective referrers, it is very rarely a “no” because they don’t want to do business with you. It shouldn’t end there.  For both of your sakes, you need to better understand their true objections, and then help them...

Making Online Therapy Work For You

by | Jul 28, 2016 | Front Page, Uncategorized

Are you still “on the fence” when it comes to integrating Online Therapy into your private practice?  Although the topic itself can be somewhat controversial (from a theoretical perspective), just the idea of doing it might be compelling and yet somewhat overwhelming at the same time. Here are just a few of the advantages associated with providing Online Therapy as one service you provide within your private practice: You can provide services for those who could not otherwise have access to you You can expand your market to your entire state of licensure, instead of your local area You will have an option for clients who may call at the last minute to cancel because of childcare issues, car problems, or work commitments You don’t have to lose a day to inclement weather or when you are not able to get into the office for whatever reason You can work from home or when you are away, if you like First, you’ll need to find out the laws and ethics of Online Therapy (or tele mental health) for your state and your discipline.  These parameters are ever changing, so keep up with any new rules as they are set forth.  Know when and where you are able to provide online services.  Find out the definition of Online Therapy in your state — Can you just use the phone or do you need to be face-to-face, online?  Does the initial assessment have to be face–to-face in the office, or can you do that online as well?  Can you provide Online Therapy for someone who is a resident of the state...

5 Things You Can Do Right Now To Get More Clients

by | May 3, 2016 | Front Page, Uncategorized

Here’s a quick list of five things you can do to get more clients… Think of 2-3 referral sources that have clients for you, but who are not yet sending them your way. Get in front of them (somehow) — an appointment, a drop in, a phone call, an email, a flyer — whatever it takes Find out what you can do to help them with regard to mental help services.  Can you provide them with a newsletter or handouts for their patients about: anxiety, depression, stress, parenting, healthy relationships, etc?  Can you run an information group in their waiting room for folks who need to know more about symptom management of anxiety or depression; how about a postpartum info session? Follow through immediately with what you said you will do for them I get GREAT results by asking “What can I do for you” BEFORE I ask for referrals Identify your top 2-3 referral sources and let them know that you’ve just added some hours to your schedule and you wanted to let them know first so they are aware you can accommodate more referrals Most referral sources really appreciate you thinking about them and in a spirit of reciprocity will send you a couple of referrals as soon as they have them If you don’t already have a website — get one!  If you do have a website — change it up.  People aren’t going to keep coming to your website if it is the same ol’ thing every time they visit.  Give them a reason to visit: Keep an active blog Place the link to your...