In-home NP Medicare Assessments

Kitkatfnpbc · Mar 21, 2016

I would like to know more about this health risk assessment position. I got an offer from medxm and I would like to find out how does this job go. I am a new grad so if somebody can give some advice. Thanks!

carachel2 · Mar 21, 2016

You need to tell us more for us to be able to respond. There are lots of these companies doing these assessments. What did they tell you about the job and the hours?

funluvinmommy · Apr 26, 2016

I worked for 14 months doing Medicare annual health risk assessments for two different companies. I did this as a way to have income while I went back for a post masters certificate. Honestly, both companies I worked with left me unimpressed (MedXM and Your Home Advantage). While I loved having flexibility in my schedule, being a 1099 contract NP was not worth the extra money I had to pay for taxes. You will have to pay 15% from your checks just to cover SS and Medicare taxes, in addition to your regular income tax rates. For me that was about a 40% tax liability. Even though the work was pretty easy and the patients were very appreciative to have a home visit, in the long run it wasn't worth my time, as I was not making much more than an RN would. Also, if the patient is a no show for the appointment, you only get paid a fraction of what you would make for a completed visit. With MedXM that meant $20 per no show and with YHA that was $45 per now show. Some days had a 50-75% no show rate. If you are looking for a steady predictable income, this is not the job for you. This is a good way to earn some temporary income, but I could not make this a long term career.

funluvinmommy · Apr 26, 2016

I worked for MedXM from July 2014 to Dec 2015. The work was pretty steady (I saw 25-30 patients per week) until December, at which time they informed me that they would not have any patients available during the first quarter of the new year while the open enrollment periods were going on. They did not tell me that when I was hired on. I ended up moving to a different company once the New year hit, since I didn't want to wait around for 3 months without any work. Also, the management is kind of sketchy, they were sued for fraudulently inflating the risk scores on the patients. See the link District court denies home health assessment company’s motion to dismiss in Medicare Advantage fraud case, dismisses health plan defendants - Lexology.

NMR, FNP · Jul 26, 2016

Hi,

I am a new ARNP. I was an offer to work with an internal medical doctor in FL. She wants me to do home assessment to her Medicare patients. But we are not sure if I need to incorporate to be an independent contractor and apply to Medicare for billing.

What is the best option? or can I bill through her office?

I will be using her EMR, and she will be there (a call) for me in case of a question.

Do I need to bill the patients directly to Medicare? Do I have to get my own malpractice insurance? Do I get a 1099 form from her office for taxes??

If someone has any idea... Thank you!

NMR, New FNP

zpipfnp · Sep 7, 2016

Anyone have a list or several names of reputable companies that hire NPs F/T for Medicare Advantage Wellness Assessments. I have been doing this for about 2.5 years and I love the job and the flexibility. However, one company I worked for and have reapplied was EMSI and it is only seasonal employment from July/August-December. I also used to work for Advance Health but got laid off in March...bummer. Since then, I've heard that Advance Health has had a company wide suspension of all HRA visits in Texas indefinitely. Don't know the reason. I'm currently working P/T on paper but about 18 hour days in real time for a company in a clinical practice with very poor salary and benefits. I don't think I can receive a PM until I've had 12 posts, and I have nowhere near that many, so would appreciate a public reply.

funluvinmommy · Sep 7, 2016

Did you take the job? I only worked for them for 6 months, they sucked. I would not recommend being a 1099 contractor for any of these companies. If I could get hired on as a salaried employee, then I would love to do this work. I enjoyed having the time to assess and teach patients instead of running them through a clinic like cattle.

Agriffin2 · Sep 9, 2016

Can you tell me what company you are working for? I'm in Florida too!

Goldenfox · Sep 26, 2016

I have considered quitting my job and leaving this area to do this type of work on a locum basis. I have such an opportunity right now. I'd like some feedback from others who have done this on a locum basis. The gig pays by the hour rather than per assessment. Pay is $65 hourly with a guaranteed minimum of 40 hours per week. There are no penalties for no-show patients. They pay for rental car, housing, and malpractice, paid holidays. Health insurance benefits are offered optionally but funded 100% by the locum. The contracts are 90 days at a time.

I don't have any experience in home health but they tell me they provide all the training. I would not be doing any diagnosing or prescribing or ordering any labs. The recruiter told me that the assessments will probably take about an hour or a bit longer when I first start but that it will take significantly less time once I get used to the protocol.

This pay is lower than I am making now but I was looking at it as a break from the 5 patients an hour treadmill of acute/primary care---although I am a bit apprehensive about going into people's homes. How doable and consistent is this type of work? Would you quit a perm job to do this?

carachel2 · Sep 27, 2016

I sent you a pm

Goldenfox · Sep 28, 2016

Thank you. Sent you a response.

Kjpham · Oct 22, 2016

To carachel2. Are you still working at uhg? I just interviewed with ugh but i did not get offer. So sad. As a new grad i'm really interested in this position!1