Can you charge for filling out forms?

I plan to charge a fee for filling out forms for physicals, disability, and family medical leave. Would this policy run afoul of health plan regulations or any other rules?

Yes. Not only does the AMA say physicians shouldn't charge patients for completing insurance claim forms, but some third-party payers have prohibited such charges, viewing them as additional fees for covered services. Besides, chances are you can minimize the amount of time you spend on such forms. Assuming your patients' medical records are complete, someone else on your staff could fill in most of the required information for you.

Send your practice management questions to:PMQAEditor, Medical Economics, 123 Tice Blvd., Suite 300,Woodcliff Lake, NJ07677-7664, or send an e-mail to mepractice@advanstar.com (please include your regular postal address).