What Is a Fair Way to Compromise My Lien? What Is a Fair way to Compromise My Doctor's Lien?
There is nothing in the lien contract that requires doctors to reduce their fee if there is a poor settlement.
- Never make an agreement with an attorney about reducing your fees on the phone until you have proof from the attorney of the amount of the settlement. Demand a copy of the release agreement or the check.
- Never make an agreement about how much to reduce your bill unless you are given a copy of the client settlement statement. All trial lawyers have to produce an income and expense accounting to their clients for their written approval. Every penny must be accounted for. That includes all payments to health care providers. If the lawyer wants to cut your fee, you should know what the other doctors are getting paid. If the lawyer says that this is a privileged document and he cannot give it to you, he is not telling the truth. If the lawyer refuses to give you a copy a client settlement statement, then his intent is probably to deceive you.
- If your fee is being reduced, the lawyer's fee must be reduced by the same percentage. That would also pertain to any other health care provider or specialist, including ambulance/emergency services. Quickly, you will see that when everyone participates in a fee reduction you have less of your fee taken away.
We believe these are easy steps to follow. They have been proven to be effective solutions costing hardly any money and taking a minimal amount of time. Doctors that employ a few good habits in protecting their personal injury patients will be practicing much longer and much more enjoyably.
Shawn Steel,MA,JD
Assistant Professor Ethics/Jurisprudence, Cleveland Chiropractic College
Los Angeles, California
Shawn Steel created a new field of law by defending chiropractors and acupuncturists, and representing their patients in personal-injury matters. He has law offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif.; has taught ethics and jurisprudence classes at Cleveland Chiropractic College since 1991; and is a prolific lecturer and writer with more than 40 articles and book chapters to his credit.