OUR PLEDGE TO YOU
Our company's goal is to help families across Florida gain access to behavioral health services. That's where you come in.
@ Easy Processes. We have all documentation online, for clients and for you as a clinician. There is no complicated EHR to use, no technology issues, etc. All of our progress notes and documentation are completed online on our website (HIPAA-compliant). Its all super easy (sample here) No software to install. No logins. No technical troubles. You can even use your phone or tablet to complete your notes! You and your clients can e-sign documents online, making the entire process super convenient.
@ Independence. We do not tell you how to do your job, only to make sure your notes are Medicaid compliant and that you keep open communication with us and your clients. All services are conducted in the field, such as at a client's home, or via Telehealth. We do not offer in office sessions at this time, although it can become a possibility later on as we grow. If you are not comfortable doing in home sessions, we can guide you through the fears from decades of experience.
@ Easy Payments. As soon as the claim is paid by the insurance company, and your documentation is turned in, you get paid too. You get paid for notes, or claims, that are completed and insurance-reimbursable. It is a "Fee for Service" structure. You get paid on a weekly basis, for all claims that the insurance company paid during that week. On average, when a claim is submitted to an insurance company, it takes them bet 10-20 days to pay. And yes, we bill those claims for you (you don't need to worry about that aspect). More details below.
@ Respect. Nobody wants to work for a company who belittles them, or who micromanages every aspect of your day. Yes, there are always certain rules to follow, but nobody is "your ugly boss". There is no Clinical Director breathing down your neck and making you wish not being a therapist anymore. And even though we are all independent practitioners, we can still rely on each other for help, especially if clinical questions or concerns come up. You will be able to email us at anytime for help. You are never alone.
@ Free brochures and business cards for you to self-market in the local community, plus the ability to print out your own too.
@ No Meetings.
@ Free unlimited CEUs for those working over 15 clients per week.
what we're looking for
*** PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS ***
How do I know if this is a good opportunity for ME?
This opportunity is great for someone who:
- has a full-time job & wants some contract work on the side, or
- wants to be 100% independent as a full-time contracted therapist, or
- is already in a private practice and wants to contract elsewhere too, or
- is unhappy where they work now and wants to try something new.
What are the requirements?
- Must be someone who has self-discipline, can follow deadlines, and is responsible.
- Must have a Masters Degree in Counseling or Psychology.
- Must be a Registered Intern or in the process of becoming one* in the next 90 days after joining us, or be Florida licensed (LMHC, LSCW, LMFT)
- Must have access to a cell phone, computer, and if doing telehealth, a private space to see your clients remotely.
What if I have my Masters but I'm not a Registered Intern yet?
* If you are not yet a RI, you can get the info here at the Florida Board of Mental Health Counseling.
What if my Masters is not in counseling or psychology?
Then we ask that you go through the Register Intern registration with the State of Florida FIRST. If your Masters is not in counseling, you may be asked to take more courses, and such thing cannot be completed in 90 days. Therefore, it is imperative that you FIRST find out IF you can become a Register Intern, so that you don't waste your time.
Can I self-refer cases and build my own caseload?
Yes. You may either wait for cases to be assigned to you, OR you can self-refer. As a matter of fact, we have a lot of clinicians that did just this. And in the process, they get to build their own type of caseload that they like. Or you can choose a combination of both options (self-referrals and assignments).
What if I choose self-referrals... can you give me some guidance?
We will provide you with business cards and marketing brochures, and if you need more, we will provide you with the templates to print business cards, brochures, rack cards, on your own too. Some clinicians already have community contacts who can refer clients to them, if you don't, you can always approach daycares, retirement homes, schools, community centers (like YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, etc.), and doctor's offices. Some therapists found success in advertising on psychology today as well.
Do you have any advanced opportunities?
We seek 1 Clinical Manager per county in which we operate in (Orange, Osceola, Seminole). The Clinical Manager's responsibility, besides seeing clients for therapy, is to both (a) market our services in the county with the goal of increasing the number of clients in that county, and to (b) recruit additional (quality) counselors in that county.
This is a results-oriented position. Meaning, that you have to show that you are making progress in increasing our operations in your county (number of clients, number of counselors, referral sources). You have to submit a monthly summary to our Owner, of your effort during that month. If you are not successful doing these tasks, we will change your position to a regular contracted 1099 Counselor and let somebody else take a shot at it. Read more about this position here.
What about previous staff, what do they say about you?
You can look in Indeed or below for some reviews (our former name is Opulent VIP Therapy - and some reviews are from that time. FYI)
detailed information
ABOUT US, EXPECTATIONS, & CULTURE
By joining us as a therapist anywhere in Florida (other than Orange, Osceola, Seminole), you are doing so as a contracted therapist for The Lukas Counseling Company LLC.
The Lukas Counseling Company LLC was started in 2015, serving Southern and Northern Florida areas as a small group of 3 counselors. In the recent months, we've decided to expand and open our doors to additional mental health counselors who want to help Medicaid clients and work independently without the ever-expanding rules and regulations of large agencies.
As a practitioner in our group practice or company, you will be an independent contractor, but even though you will have no "Clinical Supervisor", you can always count on help and feedback when you need it. You are never alone out there in the field. You make your own hours. You make your own schedule. You control how many cases you carry, etc.
We will not micromanage you. But we will expect you to write a Medicaid compliant note, follow documentation guidelines, contact your clients when supposed to, etc.
For example, being assigned a client and not contacting them for 3 weeks is completely unacceptable and unprofessional. When we assign you a new client, you MUST contact them within 48 hours, no exceptions (put yourself in the client's shoes -you would not like for someone to wait 7, 14, 20 days to reach out to you for services! - - We take this very seriously, and we have let-go several counselors in the past for failure to do this).
Same goes for writing a progress note that is 1 sentence long, not checking your emails on a regular basis, etc... those are things we cannot tolerate. (if you tend to behave that way, please do not apply).
You are not an "employee" (this not a full time "employment" position or vacancy)... it is 1099 Independent Contractor position; it is like being in private practice, without the overhead and billing and other nightmares. This opportunity is perfect if you want to complement your income while having a full time job.... or if you want to build a case load and do this full time... your choice.
90% of the therapists that contract with us, do this on a part time basis while having other full time jobs. This is an amazing opportunity to make some extra income while doing what you love!
You are expected to:
1. Perform counseling sessions in-home, in-school (as allowed), or via Telehealth.
2. Submit documentation (progress notes etc..) on a timely manner.
3. Complete all notes in a Medicaid-compliant manner according to our instructions.
4. Maintain regular communication with our office (if we email you, you must reply back within 48 hours please)
5. Keep track of deadlines (we suggest you keep everything organized on a spreadsheet so you know when everything is due, we can give you a template)
HOME VISITS & TELEHEALTH
Our code model is based on home-therapy, meaning going to client's homes and schools. With Telehealth rules relaxed, we can also use this method (not sure when or how long the rules will stay like this). If you are not comfortable with home visits, we help you through it and give you suggestions. But this is something you have to decide yourself.
Some therapists get creative. For example... they bring their own patio chairs, umbrella in their cars, to sit with the client outside the home/apartment. Some use a community setting (a private table at a local restaurant, park etc). Always use caution and common sense, and lately you should use masks and hand sanitizers when seeing clients.
Telehealth may be used if both you and the client agree to. We prefer you use Doxy.me since it is free to use and HIPAA compliant.
LIABILITY INSURANCE & BACKGROUND CHECKS
You must have professional liability insurance (if you don't currently have any, we recommend www.cphins.com as a possibility) within 30 days of signing your contract.
If you are already cleared by AHCA as far as background checks, we'll be able to look it up in their system, otherwise you might have to be fingerprinted for clearance. You must pass a Level-2 background check. If you have experience in the field, we might be able to look up your screening in ACHA's portal. But if you are new to the field, or your prints are about to expire, you will need to get those done before seeing clients. If you have to get fingerprinted, you'll have to pay for the $45.00 prints - but remember, you'll be able to use those for any employment while they're valid (not just for us).
PAYMENTS
Medicaid Rates (for a 60 min Individual Therapy session):
@ Counselors - Registered Intern - $36.00
@ Counselors - Licensed - $38.00
@ Counselors - Clinical Managers (1 per county) - $48.00
We also pay a flat rate for other services - 50% of Insurance Payment
When do I Get Paid?
Your note (or claim) must pass these 4 requirements in order to be payable to you. In order to be payable, your note:
- (a) must be Medicaid-compliant (e.g. did you follow our instructions on how to write a progress note that Medicaid will find acceptable?).
- (b) must have an online verification form completed (this lets the client or parent "verify" that you held the session, and it covers everyone in case there's ever a dispute).
- (c) must have an updated consent form and treatment plan review form on file for that client (an expired consent = not billable; an expired treatment plan = not billable; that's why you MUST keep up with these deadlines).
- (d) has to be paid by the insurance company (therefore it is important that you keep up with authorization dates, how many units you have left, if the client is active that month, etc, so that you don't give the insurance company an excuse not to pay the claim).
Every Monday, we pull a report with all the notes (or claims) that were paid by the insurance company during the past week. Then, we match those notes or claims to the clinician, so we know who to pay.
We also verify that points (a), (b), and (c) above are met.
Most insurance companies pay claims within 10-20 days (this of course, can vary, depending if there is an issue with the claim).
Every Monday/Tuesday we send out a Report, which lists which notes were payable on that coming Wednesday via Direct Deposit. That way, when you see an email from Quickbooks Payroll for $X amount, you can figure out which notes were paid this week, and check them off on your own spreadsheet accordingly.
How Much Money can I Earn?
Nobody got into this industry to make money, however, it is important to know about compensation.
Let's pretend your rate is $36.00, and you have 20 clients. This is merely an example, you can manipulate the numbers to fit your own situation.
$36.00 x 20 sessions = $720.00 per week
Of course, not all notes/claims will be paid by the insurance company at the same time (e.g. your weekly checks will always vary), but this will give you an idea that you can make $720.00 per week with these 20 cases.
frequently asked questions
Please Review:
These are some of the most common questions we get asked. So we went ahead and put them here for you:
If I want to recruit my own clients, will you assist with the marketing?
Yes, we will provide you with a webpage where we have a list of all primary care doctors who take Medicaid insurance, we will mail you brochures and business cards to use, and we will do our share of marketing in your local area once we know that you are 100% on board.
How many cases will I be assigned?
That's not an easy answer. Although we get referrals each week, the number of referrals may vary greatly. If you are only interested in us assigning you cases, then it takes time to build a full time caseload, please remember that.
Do I have to be licensed to be the Clinical Manager for my county?
No, you don't have to. You do have to have the motivation and energy to be able to perform those tasks (recruiting more staff, recruiting more referral sources), all with the goal of increasing operations in that county. If you cannot perform these tasks, then we'll let somebody else take a shot at it.
How much do I get paid for intakes (therapists)?
50% of whatever the insurance company paid.
What if I live in Alabama, or somewhere outside of Florida?
Then please wait to apply until you reside in FL. Even though we use telehealth, we cannot contract with you if you reside out of state.
Do I need liability insurance?
Yes! You should always have this, regardless of your job. It protects you in case something bad happens. You can get it after you have one client, if you want to wait. It costs approx. $100 per year, and we'll give you a couple of companies people use.
Do I have to get fingerprinted?
Maybe. In the HR process, you will give us permission to look you up in Medicaid's system. If you prints are active, then no, you don't need to redo them. But if your prints are not active, or not there, you will have to do it, and they will serve you for ANY job you have now or in the future. We do not pay or reimburse for this cost, since you are an independent contractor.
Do I have to do the Local Background Check Form if I already have a Level-2?
Yes! They are completely different things.
What if my Sheriff's office takes a long time in getting my local background check form back to me.... can I still complete the rest?
Yes, just click on the form where it says No, that you don't have the form yet, and that you will email it to Max later on (see the application).
What if I signed the Affidavit of Good Moral Character on both lines?
You will need to re-do it. Please only sign it on one line.
Can I do this if I have another full time job?
Yes. Most people do it part time.
Can I do this if I only want to work weekends?
Yes. You would just tell client you are available weekends.
Is there a specific therapy modality I have to use?
No.
Are there caseload minimums or maximums?
No.
What about scheduling clients, how does that work?
You keep your own schedule of when you work, meaning you arrange the session times with your clients. It is between you and the client.
Do my Registered Intern hours count? Can I do telehealth?
Yes, and yes. I have been doing this for 15 years, and all hours that our registered interns did, as long as you have a qualified supervisor in place of course, counted for the Board's requirements since we are a community mental health agency, and not simply a private practice.
I don't want to work with adults.
That's fine. When you come on board, we'll ask you what type of clients you prefer to work with, if any, so that we know.
When do I get paid?
Take a look at all the information above. It tells you exactly what four (4) steps need to happen for your note to be paid. We don't have a "calendar". Every week we see which notes were paid by the insurance company, and we match those payments to the notes you performed. There are NO pay delays (as soon as the claim is paid, so are you!)
First
Download the following 2 documents (they're on 1 file called "Affidavit & Local"), print them, and sign/complete them.
(1) Affidavit of Good Moral Character - Have it notarized at your bank (probably free) or UPS Store (approx $8)
(2) Local Background Check (or Records Search) - Take this form - download below -, to the Sheriff's office in the county where you live, and have them run a local check on you. This usually involves $5-10 in cash, beware. - With COVID-19, some Sheriff's offices require doing it online, please check in your county - if that's the case, you MAY send-in all of the other documents below, and THEN email us the local background screen (simply attach a blank document in the form below).
When you have both completed, scan them to your computer. You will need to upload them later on. If you don't know how to scan something back into your computer, we suggest you download an app on your smartphone that lets you scan to PDF. There are many options.
Then...
We need you to gather the following documents:
@ If you have an NPI, get an NPI printout from this site: https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/ (see PDF below for more info). See page 4 or 5 if you've never had one before, you will be required to have one eventually, so you might as well get one now.
@ For Therapists - College diploma (with conferred degree) or transcripts
@ For Licensed or Registered Intern Therapists - License (LMHC, LMFT, LCSW, Reg interns) - copy of license (okay) OR printout from the Board's site (preferred).
@ For Registered Interns - You will need the phone number, email, and name of your Qualified Supervisor when you fill out the forms. If you don't yet have one, that's okay, leave blank, but make sure you get one within 90 days.
@ Any specialty Certifications, if applicable (TCM, CAP, CANS, play therapy, sex therapy, etc.)
@ Copy of driver’s license (current & valid)
@ Proof of auto insurance (current & valid)
@ Proof of professional liability insurance (now or within 30 days of hire date) - some options are www.cphins.com or www.hpso.com
@ FARS and CFARS certificates (if you do not have FARS/CFARS numbers, please take the trainings here: http://outcomes.fmhi.usf.edu/ and submit your certificates)
@ Two (2) reference letters or forms. Please note these must be forms or letters of recommendations, not simply emails of references.