Your patient is holding a document they've never seen before. This guide is written for them, in plain language, and you can hand it over or link it from your own superbills so you answer fewer of the same questions.
What patients are told to do
- Call the plan before the first visit and ask whether acupuncture is covered, whether a referral is needed, what the visit limit and out-of-network rate are, and how claims should be submitted. The guide gives wording to say.
- Ask the practice how it handles superbills and whom to contact for a corrected copy.
- Review the superbill before sending it.
- Submit it with the plan's out-of-network or member claim form, and keep the confirmation number.
- Read the explanation of benefits, which the guide notes is not a bill, and follow up.
A checklist for the document
The guide has a tick-as-you-go checklist of what a plan commonly looks for: practice name, address, phone and Tax ID; the acupuncturist's name, credentials and NPI; the patient's name, date of birth and address; each visit date; at least one ICD-10 diagnosis code; procedure codes with units; the fee for each service, the total and what was paid. Place of service, state license number and a signature line are listed as sometimes requested. The list mirrors the fields Goji's superbill PDF prints, but it works on any practice's document.
Who to call when something is wrong
If the problem is a wrong date, code, provider detail or charge, the patient is told to ask your practice for a corrected superbill. If it is coverage, a deductible, a visit limit or a deadline, they call the plan; for a denial they ask for the reason in writing and how to appeal. A separate section covers HSA and FSA reimbursement: the IRS counts acupuncture as a medical expense, a health FSA follows its plan documents, and the patient should keep the superbill and receipt together.
The guide is clear that a superbill is not a claim and does not guarantee payment, and it does not go into Medicare or Medicaid specifics. For your side of it, see the superbill template builder and the CPT quick reference.