The longer you hold onto a bill, the harder it is to get paid. Christine Kelly is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer specializing in health care. When physicians sign a contract containing an indemnification clause, they agree to hold the employer harmless in the event of a lawsuit. Experts note, however, that indemnification clauses usually can be stricken out of a contract. While most capitated contracts have some sort of stop-loss clause, it's an important feature to check for.
Some states now require health plans to include stop-loss provisions in their capitated contracts.
Unrealistic payment provisions. Some contracts have payment provisions stating that bills must be submitted in 30 days or providers won't be paid. Many physicians don't have a 30-day billing cycle, however, and their billing staff can't comply. Experts say that physicians should look for contracts that give them warning before termination and a due process mechanism to contest deselection. They note, however, that such contracts are rare.