By L.A.S.
Will Medicare really cover all or most of your health care expenses while you are retired? I witnessed the bills and stress that my parents went through after my father retired, and I am pretty sure that the answer is no.
The most recent surveys of annual out-of-pocket expenses for seniors show that seniors pay anywhere from $3800 to $8300. Again, this is OUT OF POCKET expenses. This does include your premiums for Medicare, which seem to increase every year.
The truth is that seniors spend MORE on out-of-pocket health care expenses than any other age group. Seniors 65 and over spent an average of $4888 per year on out-of-pocket, according to a 2004 study; that included deductibles, copays, insurance premiums, and miscellaneous expenses not covered by insurance.
I might as well take the opportunity to remind you that Medicare does not cover hearing aids, dental care, or vision needs. My mother was actually rather lucky that she had gotten dentures rather early in life and so did not have the rude awakening as to how expensive dental care has become.
Breaking down the senior demographic into smaller divisions shows that the older you are, the worse it gets. Those 65 to 74 spent $3850 a year; those 75 to 85 spent $5060 a year; and those 85 and older spent $8300 a year.
Try to stay out of the hospital. The deductible for a hospital stay under Medicare was $1068 in 2009. If you are unlucky enough to stay in the hospital for more than 60, you will then incur daily charges of $267 a day. After 90 days as an inpatient, those daily charges increase to $534. As a practical matter, the hospital and your doctor will do all they can to get you transferred to an intermediate care facility or released to your home. By an intermediate facility is meant a rehabilitation hospital, a day-care facility, or perhaps an assisted living home.
Medicaid was never intended to pay for long-term care in a nursing home. However, seniors have hit on ways of spending themselves down to poverty-level in a way that allows them to stay in a nursing home they already live in. These strategies include but are not limited to: divorce, transfer assets to children, or setting up irrevocable trusts.
Transferring assets to children is becoming less and less successful with increasing “look-back” periods for determining if you are trying to hide assets. You are subject to a five-year “look-back” period by the state in which you live, and any tangible assets that have been transferred during that time (especially cash, stock, real estate) Medicaid will add to your list of assets.
Seniors eligible for long-term care under Medicaid can keep a house and car, but the house's value is limited to $500,000. The cash assets cannot exceed $2000 for singles and $3000 for couples.
Showing posts with label medicare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medicare. Show all posts
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Friday, September 19, 2008
Just try to find a primary care doc when on Medicare
[Read an interesting, developing discussion of the article here at http://minnieapolis.newsvine.com/_news/2008/09/13/1863658-where-have-all-the-doctors-gone-just-try-to-find-a-primary-care-doc-when-on-medicare?last=1221363391#last_1 ]
He needed a neurologist. But nobody would see him unless we had a primary care doctor, and we couldn’t find one, Donna says. We pounded the phones day after day, going through the whole list [of primary care doctors] in Salem. But everyone who accepted new patients would not accept people on Medicare. The Brys’ experience is not an isolated case. At least 56 million Americans, almost one in five of the population, are now medically disenfranchised —having inadequate access to primary care physicians because of shortages in their area—according to Access Denied, a county-by-county study by the National Assn. of Community Health Centers and the Robert Graham Center.---
[read whole article at http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/caregiving/articles/where_have_all_the_doctors_gone_.html?NLC-WBLTR-CTRL&DET=F2-91208 ]
He needed a neurologist. But nobody would see him unless we had a primary care doctor, and we couldn’t find one, Donna says. We pounded the phones day after day, going through the whole list [of primary care doctors] in Salem. But everyone who accepted new patients would not accept people on Medicare. The Brys’ experience is not an isolated case. At least 56 million Americans, almost one in five of the population, are now medically disenfranchised —having inadequate access to primary care physicians because of shortages in their area—according to Access Denied, a county-by-county study by the National Assn. of Community Health Centers and the Robert Graham Center.---
[read whole article at http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/caregiving/articles/where_have_all_the_doctors_gone_.html?NLC-WBLTR-CTRL&DET=F2-91208 ]
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Should We Change How Much Medicare Pays for Treatment vs. Prevention? --i.e. should smoking cessation cost more than cancer treatment?
The writer of the HealthBeat blog, Maggie Mahar, writes a very good and sometime provocative journal on healthcare in America. However, while I do see the merits of her recent column on pricing of healthcare services, questions have to be asked regarding how changing the pricing schedule would affect insurers’ behavior.
I can well imagine insurers’ reluctance to fund open-ended smoking cessation treatment even tho it may ultimately cost them less than treating the complications of smoking. The fact is, they are much more nervous about UNKNOWN total costs than they are about KNOWN costs for cancer treatment. For example, they can calculate to the dollar what a given course of treatment for a lung cancer is; they know how many radiation treatments will be requested, they know if chemo will also be part of the treatment protocol and how many chemo treatments, they know how many days of hospitalization will be involved. What makes them really nervous, again, is an unknown dollar amount for something like smoking cessation -- which does not end till the patient can actually give up cigs for good, and who knows how long that will take?
Look, Maggie Mahar, I agree with you completely on the relative worth of preventive or wellness interventions vs. treating the disease. But I think you have a real selling job to get the insurers behind any such pricing system.
It’s worth having a full and public discussion on these issues, tho, so I hope that this is not the last we hear of this idea.
Please see her full article on this valuable issue at http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/08/today-we-pay-fo.html#more
I can well imagine insurers’ reluctance to fund open-ended smoking cessation treatment even tho it may ultimately cost them less than treating the complications of smoking. The fact is, they are much more nervous about UNKNOWN total costs than they are about KNOWN costs for cancer treatment. For example, they can calculate to the dollar what a given course of treatment for a lung cancer is; they know how many radiation treatments will be requested, they know if chemo will also be part of the treatment protocol and how many chemo treatments, they know how many days of hospitalization will be involved. What makes them really nervous, again, is an unknown dollar amount for something like smoking cessation -- which does not end till the patient can actually give up cigs for good, and who knows how long that will take?
Look, Maggie Mahar, I agree with you completely on the relative worth of preventive or wellness interventions vs. treating the disease. But I think you have a real selling job to get the insurers behind any such pricing system.
It’s worth having a full and public discussion on these issues, tho, so I hope that this is not the last we hear of this idea.
When Medicare first created a fee schedule, critics suggested that it was a Marxist invention. Nevertheless, the schedule, which lists what Medicare is willing to pay for some 7,000 procedures, has become the master list for physician reimbursement in our health care system: most private insurers peg their payments to the Medicare schedule.
The notion of deciding the precise worth of some 7,000 diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is mind-boggling. How exactly does Medicare do it?
The process began in the late 1980s when officials at the Department of Health and Human Services decided that the way Medicare paid doctors should be overhauled. At the time, Medicare was reimbursing physicians based on what was considered “customary, prevailing and reasonable” in a particular market —in other words the “market value” of the service in that region.
Instead, reformers urged Congress to begin paying doctors in a way that reflected the real cost, to the doctor, of providing the service.
Please see her full article on this valuable issue at http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/08/today-we-pay-fo.html#more
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Is there a “Right” to Medicare? Should 'Grandma' Pay for Her Own Cataract Surgery?
There has been quite a rumpus in articles about whether Medicare should refuse to pay for certain procedures due to the financial straits it once again is in.
In other words, do well-off seniors have the right to have Medicare pay for procedures that they could afford to pay out of pocket? And would this really help Medicare’s financial predicament anyway?
From someone called
I agree with some measures but not others. Maybe all these joint replacements are unnecessary because we have been going about it all wrong. But cataract surgery keeps seniors active and involved and self-sufficient -- those are good things, dammit.
http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/08/do-seniors-have.html#more
In other words, do well-off seniors have the right to have Medicare pay for procedures that they could afford to pay out of pocket? And would this really help Medicare’s financial predicament anyway?
From someone called
the Happy Hospitalist believes that it is time to “say No” to seniors. “No to dialysis. No to life support. No to elective procedures [which would include artifical hips and knees] . No to brand name drugs. No to the latest expensive technology. We will have to place greater weight on quality of life over quantity of life. We will have to demand hospice care in futile situations. We will have to demand palliative comfort over slice and dice. We will have to reject marginally effective proceduralization and imaging of our elderly. We have to. We don’t have a choice. There is no other way.”
When I look at this list I agree on some items. “Futile care” is clearly unnecessary care. But often, we don’t know whether or not it will be futile. Every day elderly people do emerge from ICUs and go home to play with their grandchildren. As for “brand new drugs,” and “the latest expensive technology” regular readers know that I believe that everything depends on whether the new technologies have been tested and proven effective. We cannot afford to squander Medicare dollars on drugs, devices and procedures without knowing whether the patient will benefit. And I certainly prefer palliative care over “let’s try another surgery. Can’t do any harm.” (Except to the patient who suffers through it).
I agree with some measures but not others. Maybe all these joint replacements are unnecessary because we have been going about it all wrong. But cataract surgery keeps seniors active and involved and self-sufficient -- those are good things, dammit.
http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2008/08/do-seniors-have.html#more
Monday, July 21, 2008
New Medicare Law Has Other Provisions, Will Affect Mental Health Care, Rxs
The new Medicare law passed this month as a result of massive lobbying from AARP and other interested consumers will do more than protect doctor payments. Physicians are breathing a bit easier that they will not be subjected to a cut of nearly 10% in their fees. But counselors and others in the mental health field are also relieved that their patients are no longer discouraged from seeking treatment.
Previously, mental health patients had to pay for half their health care. Now they get much needed relief, now that their out of pocket expenses are capped at 20%. [NOTE: this reduction phases in gradually thru 2014.] A few more popular drugs are added to the formulary too, drugs like anti-anxiety and sleep aids that were never covered before. That change will not go into effect till 2013, so till then you will just have to count sleep.
Even more important is a boost for preventive health care. It is now easier and cheaper for Medicare recipients to get a physical checkup. Preventive medicine and a drop of progressivism could go far to reduce the rates of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
The alternative to traditional Medicare, called Medicare Advantage, is getting a few reductions. The main cutback is in the list of doctors who patients will be allowed to see.
One other change is intended to encourage physicians to embrace electronic prescriptions. At first they will get a carrot -- the plan initially boosts payments to doctors for writing electronic prescriptions. Later, it uses a stick -- docking their payments for still hand writing them. The higher reimbursement at first will help defray physicians’ expenses for installing digital prescription software and hardware.
Currently, about 70% of pharmacies are geared up and ready to process electronic prescriptions, yet only about 40,000 doctors are converted to that digital technology.
Previously, mental health patients had to pay for half their health care. Now they get much needed relief, now that their out of pocket expenses are capped at 20%. [NOTE: this reduction phases in gradually thru 2014.] A few more popular drugs are added to the formulary too, drugs like anti-anxiety and sleep aids that were never covered before. That change will not go into effect till 2013, so till then you will just have to count sleep.
Even more important is a boost for preventive health care. It is now easier and cheaper for Medicare recipients to get a physical checkup. Preventive medicine and a drop of progressivism could go far to reduce the rates of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
The alternative to traditional Medicare, called Medicare Advantage, is getting a few reductions. The main cutback is in the list of doctors who patients will be allowed to see.
One other change is intended to encourage physicians to embrace electronic prescriptions. At first they will get a carrot -- the plan initially boosts payments to doctors for writing electronic prescriptions. Later, it uses a stick -- docking their payments for still hand writing them. The higher reimbursement at first will help defray physicians’ expenses for installing digital prescription software and hardware.
Currently, about 70% of pharmacies are geared up and ready to process electronic prescriptions, yet only about 40,000 doctors are converted to that digital technology.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Congress Overturns President’s Veto of the Medicare Bill
The House and Senate both voted today to overturn the President’s veto of H.R. 6331, (Rah! - L.A.S.) the Medicare package that includes the bidding changes and the physicians’ pay adjustment. The key HME provisions are described on the American Association for Homecare website at www.aahomecare.org.
The House voted 383 to 41 to override the President’s veto in mid-afternoon. The Senate then took up the debate in the evening and voted to over turn the veto by a vote of 70 to 26. With the two chambers voting by two-thirds majorities to override the President’s veto, the bill becomes law.
Thank you to all of the providers, state and regional associations, manufacturers, buying groups, consumer groups, disability organizations, and other stakeholders who have worked hard to accomplish this success for homecare providers and patients.
The American Association for Homecare will be working in the weeks ahead to ensure that patients and providers have minimal disruptions. Just today, AAHomecare met with the Acting General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services and was advised that if the override were successful, CMS would issue an immediate fact sheet on the impact of the legislation on providers.
This is a press release from AAhomecare.org -- Check www.aahomecare.org for continued news and details when they become available.
The House voted 383 to 41 to override the President’s veto in mid-afternoon. The Senate then took up the debate in the evening and voted to over turn the veto by a vote of 70 to 26. With the two chambers voting by two-thirds majorities to override the President’s veto, the bill becomes law.
Thank you to all of the providers, state and regional associations, manufacturers, buying groups, consumer groups, disability organizations, and other stakeholders who have worked hard to accomplish this success for homecare providers and patients.
The American Association for Homecare will be working in the weeks ahead to ensure that patients and providers have minimal disruptions. Just today, AAHomecare met with the Acting General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services and was advised that if the override were successful, CMS would issue an immediate fact sheet on the impact of the legislation on providers.
This is a press release from AAhomecare.org -- Check www.aahomecare.org for continued news and details when they become available.
Monday, July 14, 2008
AARP Files Suit to Release Medicare Claims Data
AARP and Consumers’ Checkbook have filed freedom of information act requests to get Medicare claims information released to the public. Their purpose is to better serve the public and provide a better understanding of the operations of this government agency. The court however did not agree, so now the suit has gone to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Maybe you feel, as AARP does, that the 43 million Americans who are serviced by this department deserve to have better information as a basis for comparing hospitals and other medical providers.
AARP’s brief notes that transparency is particularly needed because the current state of publicly reported health care quality and cost information is inadequate with regard to physician-level data in the Medicare program, which has lagged behind private efforts to make physician-specific health care information more transparent.
You may contact either of these two AARP employees to voice your concerns or give a show of support.
Stacy Canan at scanan@aarp.org -- Bruce Vignery at bvignery@aarp.org (202) 434-2060
Story URL: http://www.aarp.org/research/legal-advocacy/aarp_asks_court_to_order_release_of_medicare_data.html
Maybe you feel, as AARP does, that the 43 million Americans who are serviced by this department deserve to have better information as a basis for comparing hospitals and other medical providers.
AARP’s brief notes that transparency is particularly needed because the current state of publicly reported health care quality and cost information is inadequate with regard to physician-level data in the Medicare program, which has lagged behind private efforts to make physician-specific health care information more transparent.
You may contact either of these two AARP employees to voice your concerns or give a show of support.
Stacy Canan at scanan@aarp.org -- Bruce Vignery at bvignery@aarp.org (202) 434-2060
Story URL: http://www.aarp.org/research/legal-advocacy/aarp_asks_court_to_order_release_of_medicare_data.html
Sunday, July 6, 2008
At Least Wyoming's Senators Support Medicare
It was rather heartening to see that Wyoming's Senators Barasso and Enzi both support Medicare, and have their own bill in Congress that would not only NOT cut payments to doctors by 10%, but would give them a modest increase.
If you have ever tried to help a senior parent find a new doctor because the one they had moved out to a more prosperous zip code, you already know that many physicians and clinics will not take more Medicare patients, even if they have a supplemental insurance policy.
That chore will become next to impossible if the Medicare cuts were to pass. Healthcare providers would reduce Medicare caseloads to a fraction of their total patients served, or go to all private pay clients only. This was a disaster in the making if we had allowed that other bill to pass Congress.
Would you do me (and your parents and grandparents) a small favor? Would you please email your own Senator and ask them to support or even co-sponsor the Barasso-Enzi bill (S. 3118)?
Thank you.
Copyrighted press release from Senators Barasso and Enzi is at LexisNexis -- http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100007410&docId=l:816182798&start=18
If you have ever tried to help a senior parent find a new doctor because the one they had moved out to a more prosperous zip code, you already know that many physicians and clinics will not take more Medicare patients, even if they have a supplemental insurance policy.
That chore will become next to impossible if the Medicare cuts were to pass. Healthcare providers would reduce Medicare caseloads to a fraction of their total patients served, or go to all private pay clients only. This was a disaster in the making if we had allowed that other bill to pass Congress.
Would you do me (and your parents and grandparents) a small favor? Would you please email your own Senator and ask them to support or even co-sponsor the Barasso-Enzi bill (S. 3118)?
Thank you.
Copyrighted press release from Senators Barasso and Enzi is at LexisNexis -- http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100007410&docId=l:816182798&start=18
Thursday, June 26, 2008
RECOMMENDED READING AND SOURCES:
RECOMMENDED READING AND SOURCES:
“Accounting for the Cost of Health Care in the United States,” McKinsey Global Institute, http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/rp/healthcare/accounting_cost_healthcare.asp
Alzheimers Reading Room, web log with a variety of info for caregivers, http://alzheimersreadingroom.blogspot.com/2007/08/training-helps-alzheimers-caregivers.html
Appeal letters available for a fee at Health Symphony website, http://www.healthsymphony.com/
Barton, Laura, “A hug a day keeps the doctor away,” The Age, July 31, 2007, http://www.theage.com.au/news/health/a-hug-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/2007/07/31/1185647872383.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Bazell, Robert, “The costly side effects of Nexium's ad blitz” MSNBC.com, Aug 14, 2007, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249591/
Bolen, Jennifer, “Exposing the Department of Health and Human Services/American Medical Association Health Care Monopoly”, Townsend Letter, Feb-March 2007 issue, http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMarch2007/exposeama0207.htm
Boseley, Sarah, Government warning on DIY cancer treatments, The Guardian, April 28, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/28/health.cancer.
Boseley, Sarah, “NHS GPs at new Virgin health centres will get 10% of profits”, The Guardian, April 9, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/09/nhs.health2
Boseley, Sarah, “Three more deaths at 'special measures' maternity hospital”, The Guardian, April 15, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/15/health.nhs.
Boseley, Sarah, “Tranquillisers putting children's lives at risk”, The Guardian, April 7, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/07/mentalhealth.drugs.
Butki, Scott, “An Unhappy Pharmacy Visit,” Newsvine.com, http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007/06/29/810673-an-unhappy-pharmacy-visit
Carvel, John, “GPs to provide 5-year health checks for all aged between 40 and 74”, The Guardian, April 2, 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/02/health.nhs
Carvel, John, Nurses 'spend 1m hours a week on bureaucracy', The Guardian, April 28, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/28/nhs.health.
Carvel, John, “Patients who go to A&E instead of local surgery could cost Gps 1B pounds” http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/17/nhs.health, The Guardian, April 17, 2008.
Chang, Alicia, “Many doctors say L to e-mail”, Chicago Tribune (via AP), April 22, 2008, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-doctor-emailapr23,0,6511095.story.
“Changes Ahead for Medicare Drug Program,” AP wire story by Kevin Freking, November 4, 2007, http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/11/03/1070133-changes-ahead-for-medicare-drug-program?threadId=171361&cmt=1156346#c1156346COBRA law explained: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm
Coding for billing Acupuncture services, Acupuncture Today, Feb. 2005,
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=30032&MERCURYSID=918c70b396ad0a2c4cec8b179efa75c8.
Coding for billing Nutritionist services, please see their 2007 bulletin at . http://www.eatrightnc.org/PDF2007/CodesInsert.pdf
Coding for billing Vitaflo products (enteral and parenteral supplies) at http://www.vitaflousa.com/content.aspx?PFAlias=howtoorderbillingcodesERISA law explained: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/erisa.htm
Gratzer, David, “The Ugly Truth About Canadian Health Care,” City Journal, Summer 2007, Gratzer is biased against the whole nationalized healthcare concept and has taken aim at the problems of Canadian & other single-payer systems; he proposes vouchers and a two-tier system: http://www.city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html
Foster, Kate, “Open all-hours plan for Scottish doctors”, Scotland on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/Open-allhours-plan-for-doctors.3739044.jp.
Health Symphony, an online resource that includes appeal letters, at http://www.healthsymphony.com/
Health Care Crisis in America, Michael Moore’s appearance on Oprah, 2007, http://www2.oprah.com/world/health/slide/20070927/health_284_101.jhtml
“Health Care Options at a Glance” compares Canada, U.K., France and U.S. systems, Yes Magazine website, http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=1515
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation for reports on a health benefits survey and health care costs at http://www.kff.org/insurance/index.cfm
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation at
http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7651.pdf for a policy brief on Medicaid and the Uninsured, “Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care for Low-Income Non-Citizen Adults”
Herzlinger, Regina E. , Who Killed Health Care? June 2007 and her article “Who Killed U.S. Medicine?” in the Washington Post July 25, 2007 at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/24/AR2007072401850.htmlHIPAA law explained: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/portability.htm -- also at HIPAA.org
Holstein, William, “A Drug Maker’s Views of What Ails Health Care”, NY Times, September 8, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/business/08interview.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin
Insurance Transparency Project - All the riveting insurance industry news you can stand, http://insurancetransparencyproject.com/general-theory-of-insurance-transparency/
“Industry wouldn't fund cancer drug, so Alberta town rode to the rescue,” CBC News, October 4, 2007
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/04/fundraising-dca.htmlInsurance coverage for families www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org, from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Insure Kids Now at www.insurekidsnow.gov, where parents click on their state and enroll their children automatically in that state’s children’s health insurance program.
Komen Foundation, Cancer Care Partnership Helps Qualified Patients Meet Some Costs Associated with Breast Cancer Treatment, Assistance Grants ($300) for Medication, Lymphadema Care, Medical Equipm’t, http://cms.komen.org/komen/NewsEvents/KomenNews/CancerCare?ssSourceNodeId=298&ssSourceSiteId=Komen
Krugman, Paul, “Health Care Excuses,” New York Times Op-Ed column, Nov. 9, 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/opinion/09krugman.html?hpLetters of Medical Necessity, (samples of), see Dr. Bach website at http://www.doctorbach.com/letters/
Meikle, James, “Let dads bond with newborns, says study”, The Guardian, April 14, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/14/children.health
Miller, Jennifer, “Federal government taps ancient healing methods to treat native American soldiers,” Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 13, 2007, http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0913/p20s01-usmi.html
Neergaard, Lauran, “Training Helps Alzheimer's Caregivers,” Washington Post, August 12, 2007, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/12/AR2007081200509_pf.html
Newborns' & Mothers' Protections (Newborns' Act): (Maternity coverage must pay for at least a 48-hr hospital stay.) http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/newborns.htm
Pear, Robert, “Medicare Audits Show Problems in Private Plans,” Oct. 7, 2007, New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/us/07medicare.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1191729902-/QFjVc2aBDuzO96/FhKk9gPrescription Drugs: What’s the Issue?, an essay on Open Secrets dot org, http://www.opensecrets.org/news/drug/index.htm
Quadragno, Jill, book “One Nation, Uninsured” 2005, published by Oxford University Press. You can read an excellent review of this book on Newsvine on my column. If link does not work use this URL -- http://minnieapolis.newsvine.com/_news/2007/10/27/1054611-one-nation-uninsured-analyzes-a-century-of-failure-to-enact-a-national-health-plan-in-spite-of-public-support-book-review
Ruttley, Marilyn, Henderson hospital threatened with closure - blog, 4-10-08, http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/joepublic/2008/04/vulnerable_people_troubled_by.html.
Slota, Linda, “Training Goes a Long Way for Alzheimer's Spouses” at Christopher Heights.com webpage, http://www.christopherheights.com/page/AlzheimerTraining.cfm
StopHospitalInfections.org. We are all at risk because we cannot judge the relative safety of our hospitals. Consumers Union has developed a selection of Internet-ready public service announcements that can be used to link to StopHospitalInfections.org from any web site. Just click on the links below or scroll down the page to get started. Thanks again for your help!
The Internet Health Library, excellent resource for studies, etc. at http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/
The Medical Insurance Store online -- Includes “Five Ways to Cut Your Health Insurance Costs” & many other topics written at a basic level at http://www.medicalinsurancestore.info/Options%20for%20Those%20Who%20Cannot%20Afford%20Health%20Insurance.php
Pear, Robert, “Medicare Audits Show Problems in Private Plans,” New York Times, October 7, 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/us/07medicare.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1191729902-/QFjVc2aBDuzO96/FhKk9g
Quammen, David, “Deadly Contact: How Animals and Human Exchange Disease,” National Geographic, (unknown date) http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-10/infectious-animals/quammen-text.html
Sosnowski, Laura A, “Minnesotans Fight Hi Cost of Healthcare With Databases, Walk-in Clinics”, Nov. 2007,
http://minnieapolis.newsvine.com/_news/2007/11/12/1092663-minnesotans-fight-hi-cost-of-healthcare-with-databases-walk-in-clinics#dynamicCommentBox_1180552
Travel insurance website at www.insuremytrip.com. Companies that offer travel insurance are CSA Travel Protection, Access America, and AIG Travel Guard . Carefully compare the terms and conditions of each plan before making your final selection. Check first if you are covered under your credit card or homeowner’s insurance.
Vamosi, Robert, “Security Watch: Spam that just might kill you,” (about fake prescription drugs sold over the Internet) MSN.com, undated, http://tech.msn.com/security/articlecnet.aspx?cp-documentid=5406724&page=1
Whitman, Glen, “Hazards of the Individual Health Care Mandate,” Cato Policy Report, Fall 2007, http://cato.org/pubs/policy_report/v29n5/cpr29n5-1.html
“Why Obama, Edwards, Hillary, Romney, Schwarzenegger Don’t Support Single Payer? It Would Mean the Death of the Health Insurance Industry, and Reduced Profits for Big Pharma,” Corporate Crime Reporter, 1209 National Press Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20045, 202.737.1680, February 21, 2007, http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/pnhp022107.
Health & Cancer Rights Protections: (Reconstructive surgery is covered as a post-mastectomy benefit.)
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/womens.htm
“World’s Best Medical Care?”, NY Times editorial, August 12, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/opinion/12sun1.html?ei=5124&en=44da5cf6d4bf91c6&ex=1344571200&partner=newsvine&exprod=newsvine&pagewanted=print
“Accounting for the Cost of Health Care in the United States,” McKinsey Global Institute, http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/rp/healthcare/accounting_cost_healthcare.asp
Alzheimers Reading Room, web log with a variety of info for caregivers, http://alzheimersreadingroom.blogspot.com/2007/08/training-helps-alzheimers-caregivers.html
Appeal letters available for a fee at Health Symphony website, http://www.healthsymphony.com/
Barton, Laura, “A hug a day keeps the doctor away,” The Age, July 31, 2007, http://www.theage.com.au/news/health/a-hug-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/2007/07/31/1185647872383.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
Bazell, Robert, “The costly side effects of Nexium's ad blitz” MSNBC.com, Aug 14, 2007, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249591/
Bolen, Jennifer, “Exposing the Department of Health and Human Services/American Medical Association Health Care Monopoly”, Townsend Letter, Feb-March 2007 issue, http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMarch2007/exposeama0207.htm
Boseley, Sarah, Government warning on DIY cancer treatments, The Guardian, April 28, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/28/health.cancer.
Boseley, Sarah, “NHS GPs at new Virgin health centres will get 10% of profits”, The Guardian, April 9, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/09/nhs.health2
Boseley, Sarah, “Three more deaths at 'special measures' maternity hospital”, The Guardian, April 15, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/15/health.nhs.
Boseley, Sarah, “Tranquillisers putting children's lives at risk”, The Guardian, April 7, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/07/mentalhealth.drugs.
Butki, Scott, “An Unhappy Pharmacy Visit,” Newsvine.com, http://sbutki.newsvine.com/_news/2007/06/29/810673-an-unhappy-pharmacy-visit
Carvel, John, “GPs to provide 5-year health checks for all aged between 40 and 74”, The Guardian, April 2, 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/02/health.nhs
Carvel, John, Nurses 'spend 1m hours a week on bureaucracy', The Guardian, April 28, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/28/nhs.health.
Carvel, John, “Patients who go to A&E instead of local surgery could cost Gps 1B pounds” http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/17/nhs.health, The Guardian, April 17, 2008.
Chang, Alicia, “Many doctors say L to e-mail”, Chicago Tribune (via AP), April 22, 2008, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-doctor-emailapr23,0,6511095.story.
“Changes Ahead for Medicare Drug Program,” AP wire story by Kevin Freking, November 4, 2007, http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/11/03/1070133-changes-ahead-for-medicare-drug-program?threadId=171361&cmt=1156346#c1156346COBRA law explained: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm
Coding for billing Acupuncture services, Acupuncture Today, Feb. 2005,
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=30032&MERCURYSID=918c70b396ad0a2c4cec8b179efa75c8.
Coding for billing Nutritionist services, please see their 2007 bulletin at . http://www.eatrightnc.org/PDF2007/CodesInsert.pdf
Coding for billing Vitaflo products (enteral and parenteral supplies) at http://www.vitaflousa.com/content.aspx?PFAlias=howtoorderbillingcodesERISA law explained: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/erisa.htm
Gratzer, David, “The Ugly Truth About Canadian Health Care,” City Journal, Summer 2007, Gratzer is biased against the whole nationalized healthcare concept and has taken aim at the problems of Canadian & other single-payer systems; he proposes vouchers and a two-tier system: http://www.city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html
Foster, Kate, “Open all-hours plan for Scottish doctors”, Scotland on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/latestnews/Open-allhours-plan-for-doctors.3739044.jp.
Health Symphony, an online resource that includes appeal letters, at http://www.healthsymphony.com/
Health Care Crisis in America, Michael Moore’s appearance on Oprah, 2007, http://www2.oprah.com/world/health/slide/20070927/health_284_101.jhtml
“Health Care Options at a Glance” compares Canada, U.K., France and U.S. systems, Yes Magazine website, http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=1515
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation for reports on a health benefits survey and health care costs at http://www.kff.org/insurance/index.cfm
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation at
http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7651.pdf for a policy brief on Medicaid and the Uninsured, “Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care for Low-Income Non-Citizen Adults”
Herzlinger, Regina E. , Who Killed Health Care? June 2007 and her article “Who Killed U.S. Medicine?” in the Washington Post July 25, 2007 at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/24/AR2007072401850.htmlHIPAA law explained: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/portability.htm -- also at HIPAA.org
Holstein, William, “A Drug Maker’s Views of What Ails Health Care”, NY Times, September 8, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/business/08interview.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin
Insurance Transparency Project - All the riveting insurance industry news you can stand, http://insurancetransparencyproject.com/general-theory-of-insurance-transparency/
“Industry wouldn't fund cancer drug, so Alberta town rode to the rescue,” CBC News, October 4, 2007
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/10/04/fundraising-dca.htmlInsurance coverage for families www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org, from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Insure Kids Now at www.insurekidsnow.gov, where parents click on their state and enroll their children automatically in that state’s children’s health insurance program.
Komen Foundation, Cancer Care Partnership Helps Qualified Patients Meet Some Costs Associated with Breast Cancer Treatment, Assistance Grants ($300) for Medication, Lymphadema Care, Medical Equipm’t, http://cms.komen.org/komen/NewsEvents/KomenNews/CancerCare?ssSourceNodeId=298&ssSourceSiteId=Komen
Krugman, Paul, “Health Care Excuses,” New York Times Op-Ed column, Nov. 9, 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/opinion/09krugman.html?hpLetters of Medical Necessity, (samples of), see Dr. Bach website at http://www.doctorbach.com/letters/
Meikle, James, “Let dads bond with newborns, says study”, The Guardian, April 14, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/14/children.health
Miller, Jennifer, “Federal government taps ancient healing methods to treat native American soldiers,” Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 13, 2007, http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0913/p20s01-usmi.html
Neergaard, Lauran, “Training Helps Alzheimer's Caregivers,” Washington Post, August 12, 2007, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/12/AR2007081200509_pf.html
Newborns' & Mothers' Protections (Newborns' Act): (Maternity coverage must pay for at least a 48-hr hospital stay.) http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/newborns.htm
Pear, Robert, “Medicare Audits Show Problems in Private Plans,” Oct. 7, 2007, New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/us/07medicare.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1191729902-/QFjVc2aBDuzO96/FhKk9gPrescription Drugs: What’s the Issue?, an essay on Open Secrets dot org, http://www.opensecrets.org/news/drug/index.htm
Quadragno, Jill, book “One Nation, Uninsured” 2005, published by Oxford University Press. You can read an excellent review of this book on Newsvine on my column. If link does not work use this URL -- http://minnieapolis.newsvine.com/_news/2007/10/27/1054611-one-nation-uninsured-analyzes-a-century-of-failure-to-enact-a-national-health-plan-in-spite-of-public-support-book-review
Ruttley, Marilyn, Henderson hospital threatened with closure - blog, 4-10-08, http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/joepublic/2008/04/vulnerable_people_troubled_by.html.
Slota, Linda, “Training Goes a Long Way for Alzheimer's Spouses” at Christopher Heights.com webpage, http://www.christopherheights.com/page/AlzheimerTraining.cfm
StopHospitalInfections.org. We are all at risk because we cannot judge the relative safety of our hospitals. Consumers Union has developed a selection of Internet-ready public service announcements that can be used to link to StopHospitalInfections.org from any web site. Just click on the links below or scroll down the page to get started. Thanks again for your help!
The Internet Health Library, excellent resource for studies, etc. at http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/
The Medical Insurance Store online -- Includes “Five Ways to Cut Your Health Insurance Costs” & many other topics written at a basic level at http://www.medicalinsurancestore.info/Options%20for%20Those%20Who%20Cannot%20Afford%20Health%20Insurance.php
Pear, Robert, “Medicare Audits Show Problems in Private Plans,” New York Times, October 7, 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/us/07medicare.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1191729902-/QFjVc2aBDuzO96/FhKk9g
Quammen, David, “Deadly Contact: How Animals and Human Exchange Disease,” National Geographic, (unknown date) http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-10/infectious-animals/quammen-text.html
Sosnowski, Laura A, “Minnesotans Fight Hi Cost of Healthcare With Databases, Walk-in Clinics”, Nov. 2007,
http://minnieapolis.newsvine.com/_news/2007/11/12/1092663-minnesotans-fight-hi-cost-of-healthcare-with-databases-walk-in-clinics#dynamicCommentBox_1180552
Travel insurance website at www.insuremytrip.com. Companies that offer travel insurance are CSA Travel Protection, Access America, and AIG Travel Guard . Carefully compare the terms and conditions of each plan before making your final selection. Check first if you are covered under your credit card or homeowner’s insurance.
Vamosi, Robert, “Security Watch: Spam that just might kill you,” (about fake prescription drugs sold over the Internet) MSN.com, undated, http://tech.msn.com/security/articlecnet.aspx?cp-documentid=5406724&page=1
Whitman, Glen, “Hazards of the Individual Health Care Mandate,” Cato Policy Report, Fall 2007, http://cato.org/pubs/policy_report/v29n5/cpr29n5-1.html
“Why Obama, Edwards, Hillary, Romney, Schwarzenegger Don’t Support Single Payer? It Would Mean the Death of the Health Insurance Industry, and Reduced Profits for Big Pharma,” Corporate Crime Reporter, 1209 National Press Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20045, 202.737.1680, February 21, 2007, http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/pnhp022107.
Health & Cancer Rights Protections: (Reconstructive surgery is covered as a post-mastectomy benefit.)
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/womens.htm
“World’s Best Medical Care?”, NY Times editorial, August 12, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/opinion/12sun1.html?ei=5124&en=44da5cf6d4bf91c6&ex=1344571200&partner=newsvine&exprod=newsvine&pagewanted=print
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