Hello,
I saw a patient today who is deaf. Her daughter indicates that it is my
responsibility to line up an interpreter for her and that I am financially
responsible for the service as well. I indicated that I was not sure if I
could bill insurance for that service or not. She indicated that If I could
not be reimbursed for it by insurance that I would have to “eat it”. On
diabetic shoes and inserts, this service would likely be greater than the
profit margin. She brought up that according to ADA, she is supposed to be
provided an interpreter. Is this true? I have no problem arranging the
service for her, but fail to see how it is my responsibility to pay for a
service she requires.
(As a sidebar, I have seen the patient in the past and had no problem
communicating with her back and forth in writing, additionally, the daughter
can translate, but it is “too difficult for her to listen while she
translates”, (seemed to go fine today, with no money out of anyone’s
pocket))
Any help would be appreciated,
Nathan Keepers, CPO
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