For years, diet clinics have struggled. From high costs and few clients, to criticism from the medical industry, these clinics have struggled to maintain their foothold in the medical industry. While many have loved (and hated) the newly implemented Affordable Care Act, or ObamaCare, one of the biggest fan bases comes from diet clinicians. Thanks to new obesity guidelines, many services that diet clinics offer up are now eligible for insurance coverage. While nothing is 100% covered at a diet clinic, many services are covered somewhat, and as word gets around, clients are streaming in.
While patients are loving this new change, prospective and current diet clinic operators are looking into ways of strengthening their businesses with insurance acceptance. There are many things that medical clinics must do before accepting medical insurance, so be sure that you complete these tasks before advertising that you accept insurance. Every insurance company is different, as well, so be sure to know which insurance plans and companies cover which services, as not all will cover every services. You also need to make sure that you and your staff are knowledgeable about the products that are offered. From food to injections to vitamin supplements, you need to be knowledgeable about your business.
Another issue comes with finding – and keeping – a merchant account. Vitamin supplement merchant accounts are out there, but few are experienced in the ins and outs of the industry. Many of these are experienced in health food or homeopathic stores, but not a medical establishment. One big problem is that the industry is risky. Many of the leading treatments – injections, restrictive diets, and supplements – do not have a long-term success record without adding therapy with it. It is your job to make sure that you educate your clients with the methods you are using. Also, you need to be educating them that they must continue with a healthy lifestyle after the treatments end. By keeping the treatments transparent, you can insure that your patients will have success for years to come.