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Does anyone know if a therapist receives some type of referral fee for sending a patient to an inpatient care facility, like rehab or something like that? I have a family member who is being strong encouraged by their therapist to enter an inpatient mental health facility; in the past, this family member was strongly encouraged by the same therapist to go to a drug rehab facility. I know this therapist and do trust him but just wanted to know if it was standard practice to get some type of compensation when referring a patient so that can be factored into the decision.
This same therapist once told me that interventionist receives a kickback for sending someone to a rehab facility, which is why I am asking. Thanks.
Such kickbacks are generally against the Code of Ethics for the various mental health professions. Don't know anything about an "interventionist," who may or may not be a licensed mental health professional. I don't think that "interventionist" is a valid title with licensure, etc... Anyone can call themselves a "therapist," but terms like "psychologist," "psychiatrist," and "licensed clinical social worker" are reserved for professionals with degrees that are regulated by the state.
Their evaluation is tied to metrics, like most. some metric, like followed standard of patient care, or makes appropriate referrals, or something as simple as works well with other professionals, etc all that gets high marks, then, they get a promotion, raise, bonus, its all glossed over, but yes, I do definitely know they get big "finders fees'
If you were able to closely look at their financial statements, you'd be surprised how many therapists are part-owners or have a financial stake in various inpatient treatment facilities.
Any therapist who receives financial compensation for referrals is almost certainly in violation of ethical standards and/or state or federal laws. Some private hospitals provide therapists with pens, notes pads, etc., but anything else would be crossing a line.
Therapists usually refer patients for inpatient care when they feel that the individual needs intensive therapy that cannot be provided on an outpatient basis. All states have laws that prevent involuntary referrals without evidence of severe mental illness and threat of harm towards self and others. In the case of voluntary referrals, Medicare guidelines and policies from private insurers lay out very strict criteria that must be met before a private hospital can seek reimbursement. These criteria must be met, even if the referring therapist has a financial stake in the inpatient facility. If a referring therapist falsifies data to get a patient to meet these criteria, he/she would certianly be in violation of state laws (and federal law, if the patient is a Medicare beneficiary.) In the case of Medicare, CMS has fined and imprisoned many clinicians for this kind of behavior, and they have made it clear that they are not backing off on their enforcement efforts. In the case of private insurers, a therapist who acts inappropriately would be in violation of their contract with the insurer. A revoked managed care contract, legal fees, and 5-digit fines would cost a therapist far more than he or she would receive from kickbacks. At any rate, the kickbacks would cease as soon as the clinician was sent to prison. It's just not worth it.
Some therapists have inappropriately received kick-backs for referrals, and many of them get revoked licenses and prison time as a result. I think this is the exception, not the rule. If you really believe this is a concern, you should have no problem locating a therapist who does not have a financial stake in any hospital.
Yeah, how could there be any level of fraud in the medical industry?
There is fraud in any industry.
CMMom was correct with this but I strengthen it by saying definitely versus generally:
Such kickbacks are generally against the Code of Ethics for the various mental health professions. Don't know anything about an "interventionist," who may or may not be a licensed mental health professional. I don't think that "interventionist" is a valid title with licensure, etc... Anyone can call themselves a "therapist," but terms like "psychologist," "psychiatrist," and "licensed clinical social worker" are reserved for professionals with degrees that are regulated by the state.
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Well, I'm a psychologist by academic training (left clinical practice long ago, yuck) and in Southern California in the early 1990's Charter psychiatric hospitals did things like giving court side Laker tickets and other things, never cash, but things of value, to the top admitting docs each quarter. That practice was made illegal later that decade. Charter is now out of business by the way.
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