self employed lpn

Hey guys just wondering if any of you guys (lpns) are self employed

Im trying to work for myself as a home health nurse and I dont want to go through an agency
Basically I just want to post ads and make flyers and business cards and have patients or patients families call me directly then I go out to their homes do my thing and bill them

is the possible or even allowed?
Quite sure that you will need an RN to provide indirect supervision in my state.

I've done private duty before. It is possible. Gets easier once you get that first case. Realize that you will be privately paid in most cases. If an insurance company is involved, most of them still rely upon agencies to provide the nurses. Try to get your employer/patient to do the tax deductions, etc., otherwise you will be liable. And it is best to draw up a written contract before you start.

This is something I would be very interested in also. I'm self motivated & have had a non-nursing online business for 12 years.

Don't forget about the liability insurance.

Sigh.DEFINITELY don't require RN supervision in my area, many LPNs are self employed in home care, flu clinics, health fairs and foot care.

Quote from WITTY3Don't forget about the liability insurance.

I was self employed and it was a major PITA. Remember you'll have to save and pay quarterly for taxes, plus more likely extra taxes-consult a tax professional in your state (I had to pay an extra 7.5% for social security), liability insurance, no workmans comp to cover you, no health insurance or any benefits, and you are at the mercy of the insurance company. I had several instances where my check was held up for over a month lost in the shuffle somewhere, very frustrating. Definitely not worth it to me.

Quote from caliotter3I've done private duty before. It is possible. Gets easier once you get that first case. Realize that you will be privately paid in most cases. If an insurance company is involved, most of them still rely upon agencies to provide the nurses. Try to get your employer/patient to do the tax deductions, etc., otherwise you will be liable. And it is best to draw up a written contract before you start.

Quote from jive shamanHey guys just wondering if any of you guys (lpns) are self employed Im trying to work for myself as a home health nurse and I dont want to go through an agencyBasically I just want to post ads and make flyers and business cards and have patients or patients families call me directly then I go out to their homes do my thing and bill themis the possible or even allowed?

To bill medicare or medicaid you need to be credentialed by Medicare, Medicaid is state based and again, you would need to follow the process to be credentialed. Medicaid & private health insurance credentialing is a large task, hence there are many companies who will help you get credentialed for a fee.Medicare is barely paying physicians, so the reimbursement for an LPN would be even lower. Medicaid often pays less than Medicare. If you accept Medicare or Medicaid you must accept whatever they deem as a reasonable payment. Private insurance companies have their own credentialing requirements. Like others said, aside from APN's most work only with agencies for home care nursing.Here's an application to be credentialed as an individual provider with Medicare. Note only clinical nurse specialists & advance practice nurses are listed as acceptable non-physician providers.http://www.cms.gov/cmsforms/downloads/cms855i.pdfYou may also want to check with your state's nurse practice act or BON to ensure that working as a self-employed LPN is permittable. Many states require that an LPN work under the direction of an MD/DO, DDS, or RN.Self-employed is not the same as a independently contracted (1099) worker who staffs immunization clinics, health fairs, clinics, etc.If you find that it is in fact doable, consider finding a good small business CPA to help you set your books & tax payments up correctly from the start. Consult an insurance professional as you may need general liability (plus specific riders for your vehicle) in addition to malpractice insurance.

"can insurance companies refuse to pay me?"Yes, of course they can.

I only did this with a couple of cases. I got one case because I worked through the agency. The family member was paying out of pocket to cover the hours that the agency did not cover. They had their CPA do all of the taxes, so it was really no different than working for the agency except the pay was worthwhile, a lot more than what the agency was paying me. We did everything like we normally would with the doctors and appointments with the exception of having to send any paperwork to the agency or report to the agency nursing supervisory staff. One of the RNs on this particular case was actually the supervisor anyway. Everything was run through her. Eventually the insurance company left the agency and started paying the nurses who were still on that particular case directly. I have been told that it is nicer not to have to deal with the paperwork, but the insurance company does not pay the nurses any more than the agency paid them. I have no desire to do private duty full time because of all of the hassle involved. To me it is just easier to have an agency to go through, but that is me.