We also accept payments from most PPO and indemnity plans. Monica Gavin, who runs a medical spa in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, explains to Everyday Health that going to a medical spa is “like going to a day spa, but for medical treatment. Medical spas, the article continues, have first-class customer service and feel luxurious. Medical spas generally do not accept insurance, offering almost exclusively elective procedures that improve appearance.
Patients pay fully out-of-pocket for the treatments they receive at medical spas, so they can expect extraordinary service. In recent years, med-spas have become increasingly popular among doctors as a way to earn extra money outside of the restrictions of third party payers, as well as to provide a service that can be both pleasant and satisfying. It is important for medical spas to have a professional liability insurance policy in place in order to protect their company and staff from any claims of negligence or errors in the services provided. In order to operate a medical spa, it is not enough to simply hire a medical director and manage Botox under your corporate umbrella.
Instead, you must contract with a licensed physician or physician's practice (PC) and allow them to use nurse practitioners (NPs) to perform medical services. As mentioned before, medical spas rarely accept insurance, so instead of trying to advertise a bargain, your medical spa marketing strategy should focus on the quality of your services. Give patients access to the treatments they want without putting them at risk by opening a safe, sterile, and well-equipped medical spa inside or next to their doctor's office. Your marketing efforts should demonstrate a commitment to safety, serenity, and luxury with professional images that showcase your spa's clean and modern atmosphere.
It is also important to make sure that all signs and statements in the literature and on the Aesthetics website clearly indicate that all medical procedures are performed by the PC. Even if the treatment is legally allowed to be performed by a layperson, regulators such as the Office of Medical Conduct (OPMC) are unlikely to waive the requirement to maintain an accurate record. Additionally, many people believe that medi-spa treatments are risk-free due to their aesthetic nature and because they are performed in a spa-like environment. Unfortunately, most states lack strict regulations for medical spas, creating an environment of lax standards across much of the country.
Spas are defined as establishments that promote well-being through therapeutic and other professional services aimed at renewing the body, mind and spirit. Most states do not require medical spas to be licensed according to the American Society of Dermatological Surgery Association. It is commonly thought that these types of spas provide treatments that are normally offered in non-professional spas (for example, in recent decades integrative medicine has become more accepted by traditional medicine). Florida and California have some of the strictest regulations for medical spas while Vermont and Missouri have some of the loosest. When it comes to insurance for med-spas, many new owners are surprised to learn that the “business owner” policy of a typical spa does not adequately cover their operations or associated risks.
This means that it is important for med-spa owners to make sure they have adequate coverage in place in order to protect themselves from any potential liabilities.
