Getting reimbursed for MyChart messages

[gap55u]

I recently saw a new PCP. I've used Epic for years but this is the first time I've used it on the patient side through MyChart.

My mind was boggled by how fast I got notified with routine lab results with a link to "ask a question".

Thank the law that mandates immediate results release - I have had patients see their HIV status and lung mass, to cite two examples, before I did.

but yes, I get questions on results released to patient same day before I have had a chance to see them. Super-irritating. I now have to add “results are released immediately I will comment” to all the other stuff I have to tell patients.

[gap55u]

One of my concerns about billable mycharts is that it could add a lot of time wasting low value care — patients won’t care if their nickel and time questions take time if their cost is $3-8 dollars after insurance. I don’t want to provide billable mycharts in the grand scheme of things but hate giving away care for free as well.

[StarTrekDoc]

Another issue not brought up is value based care and ACO/Alt payments programs. As many folk affected by this and increasing over time...even for private small practices.

So panel management becomes larger and time efficiency matters beyond just the rvu.

Asynchronous responses are much more effective and now an avenue to charge for the work that's being done in that arena. It certainly will not replace f2f/videoth by any means.

As for results release: 24hours. Epic has a setting for immediate release, but that's alert fatigue to patients and really annoying patient facing for alerts coming in a 1am after a midnight run on a batch lab. So we do a 'daily digest' release. all results held and sent out following morning in batch. work/life balance folk.

[gap55u]

Star trek doc - agree re panel management but frustratingly my value based pay is trivial. Still good for patient care, though.

The lawyers where I work decided 24 hours was too long. Literally it must be instantaneous. 🤬

[StarTrekDoc]

Star trek doc - agree re panel management but frustratingly my value based pay is trivial. Still good for patient care, though.

The lawyers where I work decided 24 hours was too long. Literally it must be instantaneous. 🤬

I would challenge them where results release to following business morning negatively impacts timely notification and care. Then turn around and make same of all ROI requests and receipts to risk management to be answered and reviewed and released immediately upon resulting to the requestor --- see how many emails they get at 3am pinging them.

[TheTodd]

Feels like you guys are missing the point to a degree.

Billing for my chart for some extra $ for work we are already doing is good.

Giving patients skin in the game so they think about cost before sending messages 24/7 is great.

it also changes the economics where hiring that extra nurse for refills and my chart triage becomes financially viable and not just an unreimbursed sunk cost to keep docs sane.

[justlearning]

I recently saw a new PCP. I've used Epic for years but this is the first time I've used it on the patient side through MyChart.

My mind was boggled by how fast I got notified with routine lab results with a link to "ask a question".

As a patient. I really like simplicity and details of myChart! It is the best patient portal so i far i experienced!

[SerrateAndDominate]

I'm not a clinician so I'm fortunate to not have myChart. However, in regards to billing for these small but time consuming tasks, we (pathology) have a contract with our hospital that allots an hourly rate (and annual maximum hours billed) for directorship tasks. This includes all non-billable work. If I talk to a manager or have to coordinate something that doesn't generate a CPT code, the hospital is billed. I'm just glad this was established years ago because I can't see many hospitals rolling with it.

[toofy]

Is this like an email thing? I had a patient ask me why I never responded to their "My Chart" messages. I told them I don't know what that is, and I only know how to click the co-sign button. He looked at me like I was crazy.

[gap55u]

Is this like an email thing? I had a patient ask me why I never responded to their "My Chart" messages. I told them I don't know what that is, and I only know how to click the co-sign button. He looked at me like I was crazy.

Every day, patients waste some of their visit time with me (Pcp) complaining about how specialists don’t reply to calls or mychart messages. I guess some of them see you

There is this inbasket folder. Called “mychart messages.” Sometimes it has stuff in it. Usually just below the “co-sign” folder. otoh if your system is configured to send your messages to a group that doesn’t exist, count your blessings.

[toofy]

Every day, patients waste some of their visit time with me (Pcp) complaining about how specialists don’t reply to calls or mychart messages. I guess some of them see you

There is this inbasket folder. Called “mychart messages.” Sometimes it has stuff in it. Usually just below the “co-sign” folder. otoh if your system is configured to send your messages to a group that doesn’t exist, count your blessings.

All my private patients get handed this piece of paper with my cell phone number on it with instructions to call, not text. Hospital patients get a number to page our on-call person. Telephones. Call me. Why make it complicated?

[gap55u]

I’m glad that works for you. There is no way I would allow 2000+ patients to have access to my cell phone, even if it was a Google voice #!