Chamber Card
Susan,
I noticed in your last email regarding the Chamber Card that you
mentioned that the hospital wrote off $22k in charges, how is that?
I am just curious?
Farrah
Oregon, USA
5 Responses to “Chamber Card”
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October 26th, 2005 at 11:47 am
The hospital is a contracted Medicare provider and must accept a
predetermined contract amount by procedure, length of stay and diagnosis, it
is the same for any PPO plan. The Chamber card program is also a PPO and
they have a contract with the hospital as well. In that case the hospital
would accept a predetermined amount also. The actual item by item billing
is then adjusted to the contracted amount ang the difference is then written
off. This is the same for physicians here is an example. The assistant
surgeon for my RNY charged $1500. Medicare paid him $188. my portion was
$45. and the doctor wrote off the difference as he is a Medicare provider
who accepts assignment and can only charge me the 20% that Medicare did not
pay of the eligible charges,
I hope this explains the write off system.
October 26th, 2005 at 2:13 pm
Hi Susan,
Thank you for the information on the Chamber card and the right off system. So
tell me, should I purchase the card now in the event Medicaid just plain
refuses to pay for the surgery? I called Mr. Rahall’s office, one of WV’s
representatives to recruit help and I also talked to people at my DHHR office.
There have be a few cases that Medicaid paid for the surgery but one lady was
over 600 pounds. I want to cover all basis possible so I welcome any help
given. Right now I am just plain frustrated. Debbie at Dr. Goldman’s office
told me that their office will help me fight but I have to first go through an
evaluation, etc., then he will sent in the proper paperwork to my insurance
company.
The hospital is a contracted Medicare provider and must accept a
predetermined contract amount by procedure, length of stay and diagnosis, it
is the same for any PPO plan. The Chamber card program is also a PPO and
they have a contract with the hospital as well. In that case the hospital
would accept a predetermined amount also. The actual item by item billing
is then adjusted to the contracted amount ang the difference is then written
off. This is the same for physicians here is an example. The assistant
surgeon for my RNY charged $1500. Medicare paid him $188. my portion was
$45. and the doctor wrote off the difference as he is a Medicare provider
who accepts assignment and can only charge me the 20% that Medicare did not
pay of the eligible charges,
I hope this explains the write off system.
October 26th, 2005 at 10:28 pm
I would suggest that you first research thru Chamber Card to see if your
physician is a member of the PPO network most docs don’t know about the
chamber card. The physicians are members of a network of providers that
contract for the reduced fees and the chamber card allows you to participate
in the network thus you get the discount. You must pay for the services at
the time you receive them. for more info go to ChamberCard.com you can
access the network by state and see if there are providers in your area that
are PPO members, Do not ask your doctor about the card as he willl not know
about it and they don’t like to here discount. If you sign up for the
program and your doc is network provider he will have to accept the fees
that he agreed to under his contract with the PPO network.
More questions? Just ask.
Susan
October 27th, 2005 at 12:55 am
Thanx Darling,
I already looked over the site and yes my Dr. is on the list. I will pay my
fees for the card today. Which services do I pay for when I get them. Are you
saying that I pay then get reimbursed by the card?
I would suggest that you first research thru Chamber Card to see if your
physician is a member of the PPO network most docs don’t know about the
chamber card. The physicians are members of a network of providers that
contract for the reduced fees and the chamber card allows you to participate
in the network thus you get the discount. You must pay for the services at
the time you receive them. for more info go to ChamberCard.com you can
access the network by state and see if there are providers in your area that
are PPO members, Do not ask your doctor about the card as he willl not know
about it and they don’t like to here discount. If you sign up for the
program and your doc is network provider he will have to accept the fees
that he agreed to under his contract with the PPO network.
More questions? Just ask.
Susan
October 27th, 2005 at 4:57 pm
Thanx so much. Now I completely understand how this works.