PMHNP2B

Wow, this is an old question I posted several years ago. Mania4real, I thought I would respond and update. I joined the organization I mentioned in the opening post. To summarize, it is a counseling clinic that see insurance and cash only, medicare/medicaid. I am the only medical provider (my state allows for independent practice). I am paid on an hourly basis, $90.00 per hour, except for my intakes. I decided I prefer to conduct a 90 minute intake, as opposed to an hour, and I get paid $90 for the intake (as opposed to say $135). My follow up appointments are 30 minutes. I actually "see patients" for 23 hours of the week, but with administrative work and such, I probably work a total 27-30 hours per week. (30 is a bad week). I have no benefits whatsoever, but I get $90 an hour, set my own schedule, take off what I want to take off, and that sort of autonomy is worth it to me. 11 months into the year, working roughly 27 hours per week, and pretax I have earned 75K, and post tax have brought home 60k. That's not very much BUT I choose not to work very much because I value quality of life. I could work more and earn more but I would become very grumpy and what's the point of working more to have a "better" life that you are miserable living?

Hello All: I am new to the board. I will be completing my PMHNP program this spring. I am about to enter into contract negotiations. I am unsure about a few things and thought I would ask those of you have completed this process if you have any thoughts or pearls of wisdom to share. An office that I have been completing clinicals at is interested in having me join them after I complete my degree. This is a wonderful, well-regarded mental health practice in our community and I can't think of a better practice to join. I would essentially be entering into (group) private practice. They are insurance/cash only - no medicare/medicaid. As far as working environment goes, this is my dream facility and dream people to work with. I live in a rural area in the west; population ~60,000 with a population draw area >200,000 people. They have asked me to put together a proposal. However: 1. I am having a hard time determining what is too little and what is too much to ask for. 2. I will not be provided benefits until I reach a F/T salaried status. 3. I will be the ONLY PMHNP in our area. 4. This area has a shortage of mental health prescribers - there are only 6-7 psychiatrists in this area. These psychiatrists are not affiliated with the organization I would join. 5. I will (essentially) be the only prescriptive/medical provider at this facility. Should I be concerned about this - or overjoyed? 6. Their preference is that I start out on a 'x" reimbursement basis and, when my practice builds to transition to a salary. X reimbursement could be: % of billings, or a higher % of collected receipts, or to determine a 'patient hour' reimbursement rate. 7. Based on my calculations, my "average" hour of work with (using a composite of visit types and figures provided from insurance contract amounts) is about $200/hr. Questions: A) What are any of your initial thoughts? B) What do you all feel is a better reimbursement schedule: % of billings, % of receipts, or an hourly rate? C) If my billable hour is roughly worth $200 - what is fair/reasonable to ask for? I think it is difficult to find accurate PMHNP salary data. The few sources I have found (payscale.com, salary.com) do not seem accurate to me. If they are - as PMHNP's we are getting screwed - the estimates at those sites range from 73K-97K. I feel that is too low. I think a reasonable salary expectation is 120K-140K. Am I off-base? What have you guys found in your career? Any salary pearls of widsom? Thanks in advance. PMHNP2B