Ok. It isn’t cosmetic, but I do have a reconstructive practice too. My reconstructive practice has become more and more a Medicare practice as Medicare is the last of the plans for which I am a Provider. “Provider” really should be a dirty word in plastics as overhead usually makes it a loser economically. My overhead does not become any lower just because your insurer wants to pay me poorly. I do not deny patients appointments at the office but I cannot obviously guarantee that their insurers will pay the bill. I will no longer bill Workman’s Compensation. Patient who have insurance with “Out of Network” benefits usually get some coverage however.

Workman’s Compensation actually used to pay pretty well. Now most W/C plans pay less than Medicare. They also take 3-8 months to pay. I look at Medicare as a service to the retired community. I owe no such favor to the Workman’s Compensation insurers. My last few W/C patients have been favors.

Besides lousy pay, Workman’s Compensation comes with other great benefits:

(1) Paperwork by the ream. Little if any of this is compensated.

(2) Patients with a high propensity to be involved in litigation with their employers. This draws me away from my patients with phone calls from pushy attorneys looking to pad their pockets, occasional threats from such attorneys and court time.

Best Regards,

John Di Saia MD