Why are locums asking more for form fees and out-of-office billings?
Out-of-office work (e.g. housecalls, phone calls while on-call, nursing home visits, ER shifts) by definition does not cost any office overhead. They may actually cost the locum because of driving costs and cell phone charges. Most practices give 100% to the locum. Most forms and 3rd party paperwork such as insurance forms take locums longer to complete because they do not know the patients. Often the locum has to stay after hours to do the forms. Many offices charge form fees at rates below what is recommended in the fee guide, and some do not even charge anything. If you want to come back to a cleared desk and minimal paperwork backlog, consider paying your locum more for forms & medico-legal reports (most practices offer 80 – 100%)- worth the extra and generates good will for the locum to return or recommend your practice. Otherwise, for short-term locums, you can instruct the locum to leave such paperwork for yourself to complete when you return.
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