Cell Phones

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 5, 2004

$20.00 monthly reimbursement for personal cell phones used for work calls with copy of bill submitted to agency.

kids · Feb 5, 2004

I can tell you how I handled it with the agency I left a year ago.

I was clinical co-ordinator of =/- 16 high tech Peds cases and =/- 30 nurses. The company wanted me to use my personal cell phone as the 24/7 on-call clinical support. I was on a low minute plan that fit my personal needs perfectly.

I told them that if they wanted me to use my own phone (actually, I told them if they wanted to even have my cell number) they had to agree to pay for every minute over my plan regardless of who the calls were to/from within 10 days of my submitting the bill. They agreed and it cost them plenty several times.

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Feb 6, 2004

Wow, look how big Dylan is getting!!

My agency supplies cell phones to FT and PT employees. Per diems get beepers. I usually give them my cell. I have a high minute plan, and it just makes my life easier. If I were FT, it would be an entirely different story. I would insist they reimburse me penny for penny on all work calls. You can deduct it from your income tax, but only once a year.

If you don't get satisfaction from your employer, consider a different company if you can. It is so competitive now, you can get a ridiculous amout of minutes for $29.99/mo, or maybe you could just ask them to pay the monthly fee and get a seperate phone for work.

babycakesvermont · Feb 18, 2004

My agency pays 25 cents per minute for job-related personal cell-phone use. I have to submit the original bill with each and every job-related call marked. Plus fill out the appropriate form. :rolleyes:

I have a hands-free cell phone set up in my car, so I use my phone constantly. Saves me tons of time.

Last month my cell phone bill was $72. I billed my agency for $62. It'll take them 4-6 weeks to "process" my request and get the check to me. Way too long, but at leasst they eventually get the check to me.

ksb13 · Feb 21, 2004

Our agency gives each licensed person a cell phone. Bills are audited by the team manager, but the cost savings is good. We no longer carry beepers and since we live and work in RURAL western KY... the phones reach more of the area. As long as we are not WAY over the "designated minutes" (400 I think...) then no problems..... the agency does get detailed billing and personal calls are a no-no unless an emergency..... but I think we all have personal phones for those.... it seems to be working well. No bill to the individual and the agency has the detailed bill and can address individual instances where it is abused.....

AmPmRnoncall · May 9, 2004

Hi Everyone, In regards to cell phones: My agency provides a company cell phone with the stipulation that it only be used for patient calls. Which sometimes my bill is well over 70$. I usually get called on the rug and have to justify the calls. I have a data-base of all patient phone numbers and MD #'s all I have to do is print out the names and numbers and justified. I don't have first-names in my database. Only last names and phone numbers for patients. I started doing this after my one supervisor tried to say I was using the cell phone for personal calls to my husband. I had to then go thru all my referals along with the bill and cross reference each name and number. There was egg on my bosses face and she never apoligized:angryfire . Anyway.... The things we do for our jobs that we love.

Lois... RN:balloons:

Panthress · May 14, 2004

I work at a medium size home health and hospice agency which employs less than 30 RN's full time for a large two county area. This spring we will begin to negotiate a new contract. We have no provision in our contract for personal cell phone usage for work/patient related calls. It is assumed we are using our personal cell phones for this purpose; therefore, we do have a new cell phone usage policy impletmented by our safety committee. I however, have elected not to use my personal cell phone airtime for work unless I am appropriately reimbursed. My question is...
"What is the going rate for home health and hospice agencies to reimburse employees for usage of cell phones? Are other agencies providing cell phones for this purpose?
I'd really like to hear from you.....
Thanks!:)

I work for VNA of S.E. Michigan, they now provide the cell phones for us. Prior to this contract We used our own cell phones, but was reimbursed $20.00 a month for use on a safety only basis. Our hospice team members are reiembursed $150.00 a month.

ladydi94956 · May 14, 2004

My agency also provides a cell phone with unlimited usage. They would like us to only use it for business but they do not care if we use it for personal because they say that it is inevitable during the day and not to worry about it as long as they are not long distance.

I love my agency. I work for a large hospital based agency and they are not strict on quotas and little things like cell phones.