By Steven Babitsky Esq. Physicians of almost all specialties are performing independent medical exams. These include anesthesiology, orthopedics, pain medicine, chiropractic, psychiatry, neurology, ophthalmology, PM&R, cardiology, neurosurgery, and internal medicine to name just a few. The reasons these physicians are interested in performing IMEs is that it is interesting, they can do them without any additional overhead, on [...]
The Michigan Court of Appeals dealt with Moreno, who was injured in an auto accident. His no-fault benefits were suspended after the IME physician wrote in his report that he was exaggerating his symptoms and did not need additional treatment. Moreno sued the IME physician, alleging (1) fraud, (2) tortious interference with a contract, (3) defamation and libel, [...]
Steven Babitsky, Esq. Physicians of many specialties perform Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs). One of the key issues that these physicians are frequently asked to opine on is causation (e.g. are the claimant’s medical complaints related to an incident/accident at work or from an auto or other kind of accident). The issue of causation can be a difficult one [...]
Steven Babitsky, Esq. In consulting, as in many areas of business, setting your fees(pricing) is one of the more complex issues physician consultants will have to deal with. In my experience teaching physician consultants, almost every new physician consultant charges too little for their services. The reasons for this include the incorrect assumption that charging less will get [...]
Steven Babitsky Esq. Physicians may consult in one or more of hundreds of different niches for industry, providers, pharma, etc. Many successful physician consultants provide insight and nuanced knowledge in their field. If the client can look up the answer to their problem on google then they likely do not need a consultant. One of the most important [...]
Steven Babitsky, Esq. Physicians who are contemplating retirement should consider and plan for post-retirement supplemental income. Careful planning can provide the physician with many post-retirement options. Retiring first and then seeking additional income can result in significant lost opportunities. Here are some of the many opportunities for supplemental income for physicians considering retirement. Expert Witness Work Introduction One [...]
One consideration often overlooked by new physician consultants is whether they should immediately start thinking about building a consulting company. Acting as a solo physician consultant has advantages, including: Retaining all the income No management responsibilities Being able to devote all of your time to clients The disadvantages of acting as a solo physician consultant, however, are significant, [...]
Successful physician consultants always try to compete on quality and not on price. Physician consultants in the following fields quickly learn that competing on price is counterproductive as there will generally always be another consultant or company willing to do the work for less: Affordable Care Act (ACA) Biopharmaceutical Career Coaching Case Management Clinical Trials Coding Disease Management [...]
Hi, I'm attorney Jim Mangraviti from SEAK. I'm with attorney Steve Babitsky from SEAK, and we're here to talk about how to get more IME business. Steve, how much effort should a doctor put in to get a new IME client, and why? Steve Babitsky: I would say at this point just about whatever it takes. A new [...]
I'm Jim Mangraviti. I'm here with Steve Babitsky. We're both from SEAK, Inc., and we're here today to talk about how to write a medical file review, peer review, however you want to call it. Steve, what is a medical file review or peer review? Steve Babitsky: It is a review requested by insurance companies, IROs and other [...]