To work for chiropractor?

[Casey Jane]

I'm looking for some advice please and thanks. I have an opportunity to work for a chiropractor. This is the scenario...when she is not in her office a couple mornings each week, I could use it for my massage work. I would be getting some of her patients to do massage for. I will make my own appts.(from home) and clients would pay me directly at time of massage. I would give the chiro a 30% cut. I will be using all her equipment except for lotions and sheets. She is suggesting that I get an EIN# and give HCFA forms as receipts. Why would I need to get an EIN# and give HCFA's? Can't I use a regular receipt? She will not be claiming me as an employee, we are just in this to help each other out. I can get a start and she can make some $ to help her when not in the office. Any ideas or advice? Pros and cons? I'm new to massage so I don't mind admitting I'm kind of in the dark here.

 

[Keyring]

This is the scenario...when she is not in her office a couple mornings each week, I could use it for my massage work. I would be getting some of her patients to do massage for. I will make my own appts.(from home) and clients would pay me directly at time of massage. I would give the chiro a 30% cut. I will be using all her equipment except for lotions and sheets.

Overall is doesn't seem like too bad of a deal.
Would the DC be willing to Rent the room to you? - that way it is a business deduction.
Does the DC have a massage table for you? Massaging on a table made for adjustments may not be the best situation.

She is suggesting that I get an EIN# and give HCFA forms as receipts. Why would I need to get an EIN# and give HCFA's? Can't I use a regular receipt? She will not be claiming me as an employee, we are just in this to help each other out.

Here is a link about EIN's that you might find helpful:
EIN
Personally since I work alone, I use my SSN for taxes.

As for the HCFA's, they are used for billing insurance companies for reembursement. IME, the insurance has only paid for the massages when billed through the DC. I haven't heard of a therapist giving the client a HCFA - the professional sends those in. You could give your clients a regular receipt with the proper coding, SOAP notes, and a script from the DC and have the client submit it. There are a lot of discussions about insurance and billing in theInsurance section

When I worked for the DC I was an independant contractor and they paid me by the massage (50%). They billed the insurance and were able to receive reembursement from the insurance companies. The office did all the booking and billing themselves-I came and did my work.

If this scenario is new for both you and the DC you have many options that can work.
If you are just interested in what you have been offered, I would see if they would rent you the room.

 

[Naturepants9]

To work for chiropractor?

Masthera, thanks for the info. The chiro has a hydraulic table that is not your standard rectangle shape, it is more for adjustments. In what situations would this table not work? As far as renting, I did not think of that, I was just excited that she offered the use of her office, but that could be an option. I also have a room at home that i am in the middle of preparing for at home massage. I'm going to have to have another meeting with chiro to delve into this more. I have just looked at the insurance forum...lots of good info. I'm hoping I don't have to go that route at all, I would just like to give a receipt and soaps to client and let them submit. At least to start. I'm so excited to get started but trying not to get frustrated with the business aspect of it..seems overwhelming in the beginning, but I can do this!! Thanks..you always have great advice from what I read.

 

[M-Tri]

The chiro has a hydraulic table that is not your standard rectangle shape, it is more for adjustments. In what situations would this table not work?

If it has a lift then you should be ok. The problem usually occurs when the table is at the adjusting height and you work with it that low.

I would just like to give a receipt and soaps to client and let them submit.

If you decide to go this route I would advise you to get you clients to pay up front and allow them to keep the insurance reembursement. I can be difficult to get payment for the insurance companies and you probably don't want to deal with that directly (effecting your income).

Thanks..you always have great advice from what I read.

Thanks~that is very sweet of you. I have just learned a lot from my mistakes! :wink:

 

[Flicka]

Is a table made for adjustments as comfy as a massage table?

Sounds like a neat set up. Hope it works out for your best interest.

 

[a1suga]

The chiro has a hydraulic table that is not your standard rectangle shape, it is more for adjustments. In what situations would this table not work?

If it has a lift then you should be ok. The problem usually occurs when the table is at the adjusting height and you work with it that low.

An adjustment table will usually be much firmer than a relaxation style massage table. Lie on it and see. You might be able to get away with just getting some egg crate foam to put on it, or some other form of padding. The next question is, would you have somewhere to leave your foam (if you needed it)?

Check the lift does go high enough for you to work.

 

[Ultraman Tiga]

An adjustment table will usually be much firmer than a relaxation style massage table. Lie on it and see. You might be able to get away with just getting some egg crate foam to put on it, or some other form of padding. The next question is, would you have somewhere to leave your foam (if you needed it)?

Didn't think of that problem Melb!

Is the office set up so you could have your own space to set-up in or are you stuck working with the DC's equipment in their space?

I worked the office for a DC while I was going to massage school and once I was done I did a few massages in his office. He is the kind of DC that uses seperate rooms for his treatments and I would just slide the adjustment table out of the way so I could set up my table.
At the last DC I worked for I had my own room with a large closet for storage, much better.

 

[p2000camaro]

I'm going to go back to see chiro soon and check all this out. I'll be thinking a bit harder this visit. Thanks for the great questions/ideas from you all. It is nice to have help along the way for us who are new to massage.