ICS Board of Directors Adopts New Position Statemen
on Advertising of Discounts and Free Services
The ICS Board of Directors adopted a position statement regarding adverting of discounts and free services (such as Groupon, Living Socially, etc) at its Board Meeting on Saturday. Please read the entire position statement below.
ICS's Position Statement on Advertising of Discounts and Free Services
It is the position of the Iowa Chiropractic Society (ICS) that, because of many payor contractual restrictions, ICS members should not advertise the provision of free services. The offering of free services, heavily discounted service and the routine waivers of third-party payor deductibles and co-insurance is an unacceptable and possibly illegal method of patient inducement and may be in violation of Medicare/Medicaid regulations and provider contracts. Further, the offering of free services and heavily discounted services may result in reduced contractual payment rates where third-party payor contracts call for reimbursement on the basis of usual and customary fees.
Members should review their own advertising policies and procedures in light of this position. ICS recognizes that in a competitive health care environment, members often engage in various methods of practice promotion and advertising to establish and maintain a viable practice. ICS does not seek to restrict the rights of its members to market their practices, but rather strives to ensure member compliance with Medicare/Medicaid regulations and provider contracts