241: Erin Jackson, J.D.: The Legal Side of Physical Therapy

On this week's episode of the Healthy Wealthy and Smart Podcast, Erin Jackson joins me to answer audience questions on healthcare law for physical therapists. Erin is a healthcare attorney, consultant, and health equity advocate. She also is a Managing Partner of Jackson LLP, a healthcare law firm in Chicago, and a Principal of Jackson & Co., a healthcare consultancy serving the compliance and business needs of providers and practices nationwide.  In this episode, we discuss: -Why every independent PT practice owner needs a Privacy Policies and Procedures manual -How to know if your practice falls under HIPAA rules and regulations -Can referrals and profit sharing be kickbacks? -Creative solutions for pro-bono work -What a good legal representative should know and how to find the right one for your practice -Everything you need to know about treating Medicare patients if you're an out of network provider -And so much more!   Before committing to your first job, Erin encourages reading the fine print to ensure it is the right fit for you. She recommends to not, "take one that really isn't going to allow you to treat in the way that you have spent all this time educating yourself to treat. You really deserve to be in an environment that advances your profession and professional existence in a way that matches your vision and all of your hard work for the past several years."   There is a conflict of interest when incentivizing current patients to refer others to your clinic. Erin states the consequences are, "It potentially thwarts the accuracy of information about the quality of the services when people are getting financial benefit."   Hiring a healthcare lawyer is essential when incorporating your practice to avoid unnecessary challenges. Erin states, "The number one mistake I see people making is they have had their accountants set up their businesses. Now most of the time this is okay if you're opening a widget store however different rules apply to opening healthcare practices."   For out of network providers, the argument for treating Medicare patients has high risk. Erin stresses, "If you're not in trial and you haven't been caught or gotten in trouble for this stuff, I would say most people's risk tolerance is way too low to tolerate this sort of risk… If you want to see Medicare beneficiaries, then take Medicare."   For more information about Erin: Erin Jackson is a healthcare attorney, consultant, and health equity advocate.    She is the Managing Partner of Jackson LLP, a healthcare law firm in Chicago, and a Principal of Jackson & Co., a healthcare consultancy serving the compliance and business needs of providers and practices nationwide.    In addition to her healthcare practice, Erin serves as the President of the nonprofit organization Inspire Santé.  Using her healthcare knowledge and patient experience, she speaks to healthcare providers about the importance of maintaining a patient-centered practice. In the past year, she spoke at the APTA's Combined Sections Meeting, keynoted the Michigan Physical Therapy Association's conference, and appeared on podcasts like the APTA's MoveForward Radio.  In 2017, she will be speaking at physical therapy conferences around the country and expanding her reach as an educator, consultant, and advocate.   Websites: Jackson & Co. Healthcare Consultancy Jackson LLP Law Firm   You can get more great insight from Erin on twitter and from her persistent pain blog here and health law blog here!   Thanks for listening and subscribing to the podcast! Make sure to connect with me on twitter, instagram and facebook to stay updated on all of the latest! Show your support for the show by leaving a rating and review on iTunes!   Have a great week and stay Healthy Wealthy and Smart!   Xo Karen   P.S. Do you want to be a stand out podcast guest? Make sure to grab the tools from the FREE eBook on the home page! Check out my latest blog post on The Do's and Don'ts of Social Media!