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          Small Group Health Insurance Plans – Get Your Quote Now

          Are you searching information on Small Group Health Insurance Plans?  There are many websites that provide free health insurance quotes online.  Go here to find the best health insurance rates available now.

          It’s not a very good idea to go on without having health insurance coverage.  Injuries can occur anytime and you never know when you will get sick.  Getting health insurance isn’t cheap and expenses can add up pretty quick.

          The lack of health insurance can wipe out your financial stability in the event of unexpected injuries or accidents.  Medical protection is costly and for this reason many people try to find low-priced health care.

          Various organizations are in business to provide health care insurance.  To ensure a proper insurance policy match-making process, several different insurance packages are available.

          It can be complicated to find the right health policy.  You will have to make sure you get the best coverage for an amount that you are comfortable paying.  As a result, you should collect insurance quotes online to find the best deals available.

          Click here for your free health insurance quote.

          When you utilize a website to acquire Small Group Health Insurance Plans, all you have to do is complete a form that asks basic information such as your gender and age.  To get a proper comparison of all the insurance policies, you will get the different rates and policy figures available to you from all the providers.  At this point you can choose the policies that provide what you need and that you can pay comfortably.

          You also save a lot of time by using health insurance quote websites.  It would take a long time to visit every providers’ site and get their quotes.  Fortunately for you and me, there are free services you can utilize to get rates from companies very quickly.

          Learn more on Small Group Health Insurance Plans and grab free insurance quotes here.


          Article from articlesbase.com


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            Small Group Health Insurance Plans – Get Your Quote Now

            Are you searching information on Small Group Health Insurance Plans?  There are many websites that provide free health insurance quotes online.  Go here to find the best health insurance rates available now.

            It’s not a very good idea to go on without having health insurance coverage.  Injuries can occur anytime and you never know when you will get sick.  Getting health insurance isn’t cheap and expenses can add up pretty quick.

            The lack of health insurance can wipe out your financial stability in the event of unexpected injuries or accidents.  Medical protection is costly and for this reason many people try to find low-priced health care.

            Various organizations are in business to provide health care insurance.  To ensure a proper insurance policy match-making process, several different insurance packages are available.

            It can be complicated to find the right health policy.  You will have to make sure you get the best coverage for an amount that you are comfortable paying.  As a result, you should collect insurance quotes online to find the best deals available.

            Click here for your free health insurance quote.

            When you utilize a website to acquire Small Group Health Insurance Plans, all you have to do is complete a form that asks basic information such as your gender and age.  To get a proper comparison of all the insurance policies, you will get the different rates and policy figures available to you from all the providers.  At this point you can choose the policies that provide what you need and that you can pay comfortably.

            You also save a lot of time by using health insurance quote websites.  It would take a long time to visit every providers’ site and get their quotes.  Fortunately for you and me, there are free services you can utilize to get rates from companies very quickly.

            Learn more on Small Group Health Insurance Plans and grab free insurance quotes here.


            Article from articlesbase.com

            Health Insurance

            Small Group Health Insurance Plans – Get Your Quote Now

            Are you searching information on Small Group Health Insurance Plans?  There are many websites that provide free health insurance quotes online.  Go here to find the best health insurance rates available now.

            It’s not a very good idea to go on without having health insurance coverage.  Injuries can occur anytime and you never know when you will get sick.  Getting health insurance isn’t cheap and expenses can add up pretty quick.

            The lack of health insurance can wipe out your financial stability in the event of unexpected injuries or accidents.  Medical protection is costly and for this reason many people try to find low-priced health care.

            Various organizations are in business to provide health care insurance.  To ensure a proper insurance policy match-making process, several different insurance packages are available.

            It can be complicated to find the right health policy.  You will have to make sure you get the best coverage for an amount that you are comfortable paying.  As a result, you should collect insurance quotes online to find the best deals available.

            Click here for your free health insurance quote.

            When you utilize a website to acquire Small Group Health Insurance Plans, all you have to do is complete a form that asks basic information such as your gender and age.  To get a proper comparison of all the insurance policies, you will get the different rates and policy figures available to you from all the providers.  At this point you can choose the policies that provide what you need and that you can pay comfortably.

            You also save a lot of time by using health insurance quote websites.  It would take a long time to visit every providers’ site and get their quotes.  Fortunately for you and me, there are free services you can utilize to get rates from companies very quickly.

            Learn more on Small Group Health Insurance Plans and grab free insurance quotes here.


            Article from articlesbase.com

            Health Insurance

            Notice To Policyholders And Agents

            Notice to Policyholders and Agents

            The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has entered into a non-confidential consent order with Magnolia Insurance Company placing Magnolia into administrative supervision. The Order of Supervision, paragraph 9, states Magnolia Insurance ordered to stop writing new business and non-renew existing policies

            “Magnolia shall not write any new business and shall not renew business without the prior consent of the Office and without a full disclosure of the existence of this Order to the policyholder and the agent in advance of any renewal.” This company has been placed into supervision because the Office finds it to be in an unsound condition. Magnolia is bound by the notice provisions of Section 627.4133, Florida Statutes to appropriately notice non-renewals. Policies that are slated to renew now and in the first few weeks of January 2010 could not be properly noticed for non-renewal by Magnolia and Magnolia will renew the policy if the policyholder or agents request renewal. However, policyholders and agents should be aware that renewal with Magnolia is at your own risk and that of policyholders. Agents should seek to place any policy slated for renewal with another admitted carrier prior to the policy expiration date. Should you be unable to place with an admitted carrier, then you may resort to Citizens, assuming the application meets Citizens’ guidelines and requirements.

            Best Rate Insurance is dedicated to helping current Magnolia policyholders find replacement coverage immediately, call us today for all of your options. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.bestrate-insurance.com/

            The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has entered into a non-confidential consent order with Magnolia Insurance Company placing Magnolia into administrative supervision. The Order of Supervision, paragraph 9, states


            Article from articlesbase.com

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            Personal Health Insurance Coverage – Health Insurance Doesn’t Have To Cost A Fortune

            In search of Personal Health Insurance Coverage?  You can use services online to find the best health insurance rates available.  Go here to find out the best health insurance rates available for you.

            It is a bad idea to go on without health insurance.  When you least expect them, illnesses and injuries can strike.  Buying health insurance isn’t exactly cheap and expenses tend to increase pretty fast.

            In reality, if an accident or ailment comes up and you have no insurance you could be cleaned out financially.  Medical support is so overpriced that people really need to come by an inexpensive health care policy to cover the expenses.

            Plenty of companies exist to supply people with health care coverage.  Varying health insurance packages are provided by these companies to ensure people are matched with the proper insurance policy.

            Getting the proper health plan can be difficult.  You must make certain that you get the finest coverage you can for a cost that you can cover financially without any major trouble.  Thus, you should compare health insurance rates online to see who can give you the best deal on your insurance policy.

            Get an instant quote right now!

            You will need to provide basic information such as your age and gender when getting Personal Health Insurance Coverage.  So that you can compare them well, you will get the insurance policies from different providers with all of ther policy figures.  At this point you will be able to sort out the policies that meet your demands and that you can pay comfortably.

            A great advantage of utilizing online health quote sites is that they save you time and energy.  It would require you to spend several hours to get a quote from each insurance provider separately.  Mercifully, free services exist so you can collect rates from numerous providers simply and quickly.

            Get more information on Personal Health Insurance Coverage and get free insurance rates by going here.


            Article from articlesbase.com

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              Play the national game

              Recently, the political parties were arguing over whether you should be allowed to buy your health insurance across state lines. As part of the healthcare debate, the GOP was strongly in favor of dismantling the current state monopoly. For once, and some would say for good reason, the Democrats were the party of “No”, and insurance companies are still to be regulated by Departments of Insurance in individual states. Obviously, this does not prevent you from moving between states so here, at last, is a national survey telling you where to pitch your tent to get the cheapest premium rates for insuring your vehicle. With the arrival of internet search engines, it is easy to collect and compare data state-by-state. For these purposes, the research team agreed a standard set of answers to the questionnaires used by the search engines. The sample covered ten zip codes for each state and assumed a single male driver with a short distance to commute to work. He accepted a 0 deductible on comprehensive and collision coverage, and limits of 0,000 for injury to one individual, 0,000 for all injuries arising out of a single traffic accident, and ,000 for property damage. Prudently, our hypothetical male also asked for uninsured coverage. This approach distinguishes the survey from that undertaken by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC monitors the actual premium rates and takes an average from the gross revenue figures submitted by the insurers in each state. This survery’s sole intention was to find the cheapest average insurance available for one class of driver. The most expensive state by a country mile was Louisiana with an average premium of ,510. The cheapest was Maine with an average of 2. It may be appropriate to treat Louisiana as a “special case”. Ignoring Hurricane Katrina which has no obvious effect on vehicle premium rates, there is a unique court system which encourages settlements of claims just under ,000. Because judges are elected, they prefer to be generous to keep the voters happy. For some unexplained reason, this makes litigation a popular hobby and the number of claim rates is higher in this state than in any other state. By contrast, Maine has only a small number of drivers in a rural state. This makes for significantly fewer accidents. Add in the fact that there are more than 30 insurance companies competing for the business and you get the lowest rates. Obviously, it is difficult to justify the expense of moving to another state just to find cheap auto insurance but, with 18 states offering our male driver insurance at less than ,300, the savings will mount up over time. The moral of all this story seems to be that premium rates are low in states which have two features. Firstly, their populations are relatively small. Secondly, there is a reasonable level of competition between the insurers licensed to sell policies. If we ignore the unusual legal issues in Louisiana and Michigan which has a particularly generous personal injury system, the highest rates tend to be in the more urbanized states where car ownership and the risk of an accident are high, and there are only a few insurance companies. If you cannot move, get as many auto insurance quotes as possible to find the best deal.

              Professional writers like David Mayer appreciate it when they have a ground for helping people learn more about things. http://www.findcarinsurancequotes.net/car-insurance-in-louisiana.html is just the place for David Mayer and other professionals share their knowledge with others.


              Article from articlesbase.com


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              Play the national game

              Recently, the political parties were arguing over whether you should be allowed to buy your health insurance across state lines. As part of the healthcare debate, the GOP was strongly in favor of dismantling the current state monopoly. For once, and some would say for good reason, the Democrats were the party of “No”, and insurance companies are still to be regulated by Departments of Insurance in individual states. Obviously, this does not prevent you from moving between states so here, at last, is a national survey telling you where to pitch your tent to get the cheapest premium rates for insuring your vehicle. With the arrival of internet search engines, it is easy to collect and compare data state-by-state. For these purposes, the research team agreed a standard set of answers to the questionnaires used by the search engines. The sample covered ten zip codes for each state and assumed a single male driver with a short distance to commute to work. He accepted a 0 deductible on comprehensive and collision coverage, and limits of 0,000 for injury to one individual, 0,000 for all injuries arising out of a single traffic accident, and ,000 for property damage. Prudently, our hypothetical male also asked for uninsured coverage. This approach distinguishes the survey from that undertaken by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC monitors the actual premium rates and takes an average from the gross revenue figures submitted by the insurers in each state. This survery’s sole intention was to find the cheapest average insurance available for one class of driver. The most expensive state by a country mile was Louisiana with an average premium of ,510. The cheapest was Maine with an average of 2. It may be appropriate to treat Louisiana as a “special case”. Ignoring Hurricane Katrina which has no obvious effect on vehicle premium rates, there is a unique court system which encourages settlements of claims just under ,000. Because judges are elected, they prefer to be generous to keep the voters happy. For some unexplained reason, this makes litigation a popular hobby and the number of claim rates is higher in this state than in any other state. By contrast, Maine has only a small number of drivers in a rural state. This makes for significantly fewer accidents. Add in the fact that there are more than 30 insurance companies competing for the business and you get the lowest rates. Obviously, it is difficult to justify the expense of moving to another state just to find cheap auto insurance but, with 18 states offering our male driver insurance at less than ,300, the savings will mount up over time. The moral of all this story seems to be that premium rates are low in states which have two features. Firstly, their populations are relatively small. Secondly, there is a reasonable level of competition between the insurers licensed to sell policies. If we ignore the unusual legal issues in Louisiana and Michigan which has a particularly generous personal injury system, the highest rates tend to be in the more urbanized states where car ownership and the risk of an accident are high, and there are only a few insurance companies. If you cannot move, get as many auto insurance quotes as possible to find the best deal.

              Professional writers like David Mayer appreciate it when they have a ground for helping people learn more about things. http://www.findcarinsurancequotes.net/car-insurance-in-louisiana.html is just the place for David Mayer and other professionals share their knowledge with others.


              Article from articlesbase.com


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              Best Supplemental Health Insurance – Request A Free Quote Today

              In search of Best Supplemental Health Insurance?  There are numerous sites where you can get free health insurance quotes.  Find the best deals on health insurance now by going here.

              It’s a bad idea to keep going on without health care coverage.  Predicting injuries or illnesses is difficult as they tend to surprise us when we let our guard down.  Getting health care is by no means cheap and costs add up rather quickly.

              In reality, when there is no health coverage a sudden injury or ailment could clean you out in financial terms.  Medical support can be quite pricey and that’s why it’s urgent for millions of Americans to get low-cost health coverage.

              There are many organizations that provide health care insurance.  These companies have numerous packages available to match people with the right insurance policy.

              Getting the right health insurance policy can be time-consuming.  It’s vital to acquire the best insurance you can for an amount that you are comfortable paying.  Consequently, you should compare health quotes online to find out where you can get the best rates at the best price.

              Go here for a free health insurance quote.

              To get Best Supplemental Health Insurance, you will need to fill out a basic questionnaire when using a health quote site.  Quotes from various providers will be gathered and you will be able to review the policy figures and all prices from the different health insurance providers.  At this point you will be able to sort out the policies that meet your demands and that you can pay comfortably.

              You save a lot of time and energy when you make use of online health quote sites.  To get a quote from each insurance provider separately would take many hours to accomplish.  Thankfully, however, there are free sites you can use to obtain quotes from organizations almost instantaneously.

              Click here to get a free insurance quote and to get more info on Best Supplemental Health Insurance.


              Article from articlesbase.com


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                Best Supplemental Health Insurance – Request A Free Quote Today

                In search of Best Supplemental Health Insurance?  There are numerous sites where you can get free health insurance quotes.  Find the best deals on health insurance now by going here.

                It’s a bad idea to keep going on without health care coverage.  Predicting injuries or illnesses is difficult as they tend to surprise us when we let our guard down.  Getting health care is by no means cheap and costs add up rather quickly.

                In reality, when there is no health coverage a sudden injury or ailment could clean you out in financial terms.  Medical support can be quite pricey and that’s why it’s urgent for millions of Americans to get low-cost health coverage.

                There are many organizations that provide health care insurance.  These companies have numerous packages available to match people with the right insurance policy.

                Getting the right health insurance policy can be time-consuming.  It’s vital to acquire the best insurance you can for an amount that you are comfortable paying.  Consequently, you should compare health quotes online to find out where you can get the best rates at the best price.

                Go here for a free health insurance quote.

                To get Best Supplemental Health Insurance, you will need to fill out a basic questionnaire when using a health quote site.  Quotes from various providers will be gathered and you will be able to review the policy figures and all prices from the different health insurance providers.  At this point you will be able to sort out the policies that meet your demands and that you can pay comfortably.

                You save a lot of time and energy when you make use of online health quote sites.  To get a quote from each insurance provider separately would take many hours to accomplish.  Thankfully, however, there are free sites you can use to obtain quotes from organizations almost instantaneously.

                Click here to get a free insurance quote and to get more info on Best Supplemental Health Insurance.


                Article from articlesbase.com

                Health Insurance

                Best Supplemental Health Insurance – Request A Free Quote Today

                In search of Best Supplemental Health Insurance?  There are numerous sites where you can get free health insurance quotes.  Find the best deals on health insurance now by going here.

                It’s a bad idea to keep going on without health care coverage.  Predicting injuries or illnesses is difficult as they tend to surprise us when we let our guard down.  Getting health care is by no means cheap and costs add up rather quickly.

                In reality, when there is no health coverage a sudden injury or ailment could clean you out in financial terms.  Medical support can be quite pricey and that’s why it’s urgent for millions of Americans to get low-cost health coverage.

                There are many organizations that provide health care insurance.  These companies have numerous packages available to match people with the right insurance policy.

                Getting the right health insurance policy can be time-consuming.  It’s vital to acquire the best insurance you can for an amount that you are comfortable paying.  Consequently, you should compare health quotes online to find out where you can get the best rates at the best price.

                Go here for a free health insurance quote.

                To get Best Supplemental Health Insurance, you will need to fill out a basic questionnaire when using a health quote site.  Quotes from various providers will be gathered and you will be able to review the policy figures and all prices from the different health insurance providers.  At this point you will be able to sort out the policies that meet your demands and that you can pay comfortably.

                You save a lot of time and energy when you make use of online health quote sites.  To get a quote from each insurance provider separately would take many hours to accomplish.  Thankfully, however, there are free sites you can use to obtain quotes from organizations almost instantaneously.

                Click here to get a free insurance quote and to get more info on Best Supplemental Health Insurance.


                Article from articlesbase.com

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                Leading Health Insurance Companies – Get A Free Health Insurance Quote

                Are you looking for Leading Health Insurance Companies?  Many sites give you the ability to find the best health insurance quotes online.  Find out the best health insurance rates available for you here.

                It’s not very bright to go without having health insurance coverage.  Injuries and illnesses can occur when you least expect them.  Expenses tend to add up rather quickly and acquiring health insurance is not cheap by any means.

                Not having health insurance can mean a financial wipe out if an unexpected accident or ailments should come up.  Today’s medical care is so expensive that people need to secure a low-priced health care policy.

                Various organizations are in business to provide health care insurance.  To make sure that people get the right health insurance policy, these organizations carry different health insurance packages.

                It can be difficult to obtain the right health insurance policy.  It’s crucial to find the top insurance coverage you can for a price that you can easily pay without major worries.  Therefore, you’re encouraged to compare health insurance rates online to find the best deals available to you.

                Get an instant quote right now!

                All you have to do is complete a simple questionnaire when using a health quote website to get Leading Health Insurance Companies.  The policy figures from all the different providers will be made available to you so you can compare them.  At this point you can choose the policies that provide what you need and that you can pay comfortably.

                A great benefit of using health quote websites is that you save quite a lot of time.  If you were to get quotes separately from each provider, it would literally take you hours to do.  Luckily for you and me, free website services exist so you can acquire rates from the insurance firms very fast.

                Learn more on Leading Health Insurance Companies and grab free insurance quotes here.


                Article from articlesbase.com


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                Revenue Cycle Management: Ten Tips to Maximize Revenue

                Healthcare is one of few industries where services are not paid for when they are received.  Typically, one party (such as a doctor or hospital) provides services to a second party (a patient), but a third party (a health insurance carrier) is often involved in facilitating financial reimbursement for the services provided. 

                Money keeps the practice in business.  Each phase of the revenue cycle is important, from payer contracts to charge capture and collections.  Knowing how to manage the revenue cycle not only ensures the financial viability of the practice, but also minimizes the time and effort spent collecting payment for services rendered.

                The purpose of this article is to gain a better understanding of what you can do to efficiently manage the revenue cycle and how to maximize potential revenue.

                1:     Review payer contracts

                Payer contracts often contain complex reimbursement language and formulas that can be difficult to monitor and manage. It is important to know what you are agreeing to when you sign any contract, but especially when it comes to payer contracts.  Be sure you know and understand the expected reimbursement and contractual allowances before you sign.  Contract negotiations can be difficult, especially if you are a solo practitioner.  You have limited power to negotiate unless your specialty is in high demand and there are limited providers available in your geographic area.  When negotiating, be sure to optimize trade-offs and to understand the total value of the agreement prior to contract execution.  It could be beneficial to take less reimbursement on office visits if you can get more money on high dollar surgical procedures, but make sure you evaluate this against your current or expected volumes.

                2:     Know the Law

                Here in Indiana under the “Prompt Pay” law, payers must pay or deny a clean claim within 30 days of receipt if filed electronically and within 45 days of receipt if filed on paper.  Check the laws in your state to see if there are payer deadlines.  While the definition of a clean claim could be disputed, no response from a payer within the 30 to 45 day window should result in immediate follow up.  Medicare reimbursements are dispersed within 14 days of electronic claim submission, so inquiry on those unpaid claims should occur within 15 to 20 days. 

                Most practice management systems will allow batching of unpaid claims by insurance type so that inquiry can be made on multiple claims with one phone call or internet inquiry.  Pending claims should be worked on a daily basis, beginning with accounts with the highest balance and oldest age first, such that every unpaid account is reviewed at least once every 30 days.

                3:     Clean claims = fewer denials

                A serious concern in healthcare reimbursement today is decreased or delayed reimbursement due to claim denials. The challenge is how to quickly identify the source of the denials and fix the problems.  Education is the key to clean claims.  Providers, front desk, billers and clinical staff all contribute to the information that is submitted on a claim.  Each individual needs to understand how their role impacts claim payment.  When denials are received, they should be identified with a reason code and posted in the practice management system so a denial report can be generated at month-end.  This gives managers a clear picture of where further education is needed.

                4:     Respond promptly to claim denials

                After receiving a claim denial it is important to correct the claim and rebill it to the insurance carrier promptly.  Claims often go unpaid and bump up against timely filing limits when the biller keeps a “zero pay folder” to work in the future.  Denied claims should be addressed daily as they are received. 

                Each insurance carrier handles resubmitted claims differently so it is important to know what each carrier expects.   With some carriers, if the claim is simply rebilled electronically with no notation, the claim will be denied as a duplicate.   Some carriers will allow the provider’s office to fax a corrected claim directly to their claims processing department.  Others require that the claim be resubmitted either electronically or on paper. 

                5:     Review payments carefully

                Payers will often make mistakes when processing claims that need to be appealed for proper reimbursement.  The person posting payments must pay attention and question anything that does not look right.  Some things to watch for include:

                dropped or missed procedures
                one procedure bundled into another and paid based on one code instead of two
                modifiers dropped that justify bundled procedures
                multiple units ignored
                payment based on the wrong fee schedule

                The best practice management systems have the ability to load payer fee schedules so you know when payments are posted whether they were paid correctly or not.

                6:     Appeal claims paid in error

                Any services paid incorrectly should be appealed.  Sometimes errors can be addressed over the phone, but often they require a formal appeal letter.  It is important when appealing claims that a cover letter be submitted explaining why the claim is being appealed.  The cover letter also notifies the carrier of any attached documentation accompanying the claim.  Further documentation may include progress notes, lab or other test results, operative notes, fee schedules, copies of CPT guidelines or Medicare policies to support the appeal.  Keep copies of all appeals and the results for reference with future appeals.

                7:     Don’t get frustrated, get help!

                Practices should not hesitate to contact their State Insurance Commissioner’s office if they feel they are getting the run-around from a particular payer after reasonable attempts to collect. 

                Find your state insurance commissioner at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.

                Commissioner’s offices may be called with general questions, but in order for them to investigate a disputed claim they must have written documentation with as many details as possible. Documentation should include a copy of the insurance card, the claim form, and documentation reflecting all efforts to resolve the claim, as well as responses from the payer.  A separate complaint should be filed for each patient involved.  Most insurance companies respond quickly when the State Insurance Commissioner becomes involved.

                8:     Patient balances

                Sometimes asking patients for payment puts the office staff in an uncomfortable position, especially when the patient becomes disgruntled. However, most insurance companies require that the patient’s co-pay be collected at the time service is rendered. Staff members working at check-in and check-out should be comfortable asking for payment.  Often providing a script requesting payment helps staff members to be more comfortable and consistent with requesting payments. Contracted providers are obligated to collect the co-pay at the time of service.  Failure to do so could be a breach of contract.

                The most important thing an office can do is to develop an office financial policy with regard to patient payments.  Developing an office policy is important to ensure that all patients will be treated the same with regards to financial payment.  A financial policy makes the patient aware of their responsibilities with regards to payment for services.  Outline in your policy the exact process which will be followed should the patient refuse to pay on their account.

                Attempts to collect outstanding balances should be made each time the patient is seen.  The cost of pursuing payment after the patient leaves only decreases the value of the dollar collected.  The more time that passes the less valuable the dollar becomes and the more difficult it is to collect.  Patients know whether you are an office that expects payment or one that will extend free credit.  The most successful practices use one or more of these techniques:

                Notify patients when scheduling and confirming appointments that they should 1) bring insurance cards and photo ID to each visit; and 2) come prepared to pay copays and outstanding balances at the time of service.  Let them know up front what credit cards you accept.
                Collect copays and outstanding balances at check-in rather than check-out.  Staff should be direct without being rude when asking for money.  Confidently stating “Your copay is .  Will you be paying with cash, check or credit card?” is better than asking “You have a balance of 2.  Would you like to make a payment today or should we bill you?”  Why pay today if you don’t have to?  Your office is not a bank and should not routinely extend credit.
                Start payment plans at a maximum of three to six months and a minimum of .  It costs money to send statements and process multiple payments.  Offer discounts if the balance is paid in full to get the account settled quickly.
                Don’t spend money on statements to collect and balances.  Collect small balances the next time the patient is in the office.

                9:     Hire and retain the best employees

                Generating revenue is the most important task in the financial success of the medical office.  The people hired for these roles should be seen as an investment.  Ongoing training is critical to their success as the rules and regulations are constantly changing.  The cost of one seminar could easily be recouped in a couple of correctly billed surgeries.  Incorrect claims or missed charges could be costing you millions.  Invest in your billers and do everything you can to retain the best employees.  Workers who feel valued will usually deliver exceptional results.

                10:   Monitor benchmarks and key performance indicators

                Benchmarks and key performance indicators should be reviewed monthly.  Let your billers know what is expected so they can monitor and achieve the goals.  Analyze trends on a monthly basis and identify any warning signs before they become serious.  The following benchmarks are “best practice” and may be used as a baseline, but each specialty and/or practice may want to adjust these or reference MGMA benchmarks by specialty:

                Average number of days revenue in A/R at a maximum of 35 days
                A/R greater than 90 days less than 20% of total A/R
                Credit balances less than 4% of total A/R
                Bad debt write-off less than 2% of total charges
                Net collection percentage 96% or greater

                There are many other things you can review monthly that will help you monitor financial performance, including:

                Procedure analysis compared to CMS Norms
                Ratio of charges to payments and adjustments
                Drop in reimbursement by individual payers

                We are living in difficult times that require offices to do everything they can to keep the practice in business.  Every employee is valuable and should take responsibility for their role in the practice thus helping the revenue cycle to be clean and efficient.  This article has shown not only how to manage the revenue cycle and ensure the financial viability of the practice, but also minimize the time and effort spent collecting payment for services rendered.

                Carol Hoppe is a Senior Consultant at InHealth, and the Director of Billing, Coding and Credentialing at  Indianapolis Medical Management.  She can be reached at carol.hoppe@inhealthconsulting.com

                Efficiency in Practice is the free eNewsletter for medical practice managers who want to save time, money and reduce risk.  For more information and to access your FREE report, The 8 Things You MUST Know About CMS’ RAC Program, visit www.efficiencyinpractice.com 

                This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box are included.


                Article from articlesbase.com


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                  American Medical Insurance Company – Advantages Of Health Insurance

                  Searching for American Medical Insurance Company?  Many websites provide free health insurance quotes to compare policies from different providers.  Go here to discover the best health insurance rates available for you.

                  It is a bad idea to go on without health insurance.  Injuries and illnesses are hard to predict and usually come when you have your guard down.  Health insurance isn’t cheap and the costs can increase rather quickly.

                  It’s possible for unexpected accidents or injuries when there is no health coverage to wipe out your finances.  It’s vital to acquire economical health coverage since medical assistance is overpriced.

                  Plenty of companies exist to supply people with health care coverage.  They carry several different packages to connect the proper insurance policy with those who need them.

                  A proper insurance policy can take a lot of time and effort to find.  It’s crucial to find the top insurance coverage you can for a price that you can easily pay without major worries.  It is thus a good idea to get insurance quotes online to find the best options available.

                  Get your free health insurance quote here.

                  To get American Medical Insurance Company when using a service, you simply need to fill out a basic questionnaire.  A comparison between the different insurance policies will be made available to you and you will be able to see who provides the best deal.  You will have the opportunity to sort the policies that provide what you need and that are in your financial grasp.

                  You save a lot of time and energy when you make use of online health quote sites.  If you went and got separate quotes from each provider, you would have to spend many hours to get it all done.  Happily, however, free services exist for anyone to get health quotes from all the available providers very easily and quickly.

                  If you want more on American Medical Insurance Company and to obtain a free insurance quote, go here.


                  Article from articlesbase.com

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                  American Medical Insurance Company – Advantages Of Health Insurance

                  Searching for American Medical Insurance Company?  Many websites provide free health insurance quotes to compare policies from different providers.  Go here to discover the best health insurance rates available for you.

                  It is a bad idea to go on without health insurance.  Injuries and illnesses are hard to predict and usually come when you have your guard down.  Health insurance isn’t cheap and the costs can increase rather quickly.

                  It’s possible for unexpected accidents or injuries when there is no health coverage to wipe out your finances.  It’s vital to acquire economical health coverage since medical assistance is overpriced.

                  Plenty of companies exist to supply people with health care coverage.  They carry several different packages to connect the proper insurance policy with those who need them.

                  A proper insurance policy can take a lot of time and effort to find.  It’s crucial to find the top insurance coverage you can for a price that you can easily pay without major worries.  It is thus a good idea to get insurance quotes online to find the best options available.

                  Get your free health insurance quote here.

                  To get American Medical Insurance Company when using a service, you simply need to fill out a basic questionnaire.  A comparison between the different insurance policies will be made available to you and you will be able to see who provides the best deal.  You will have the opportunity to sort the policies that provide what you need and that are in your financial grasp.

                  You save a lot of time and energy when you make use of online health quote sites.  If you went and got separate quotes from each provider, you would have to spend many hours to get it all done.  Happily, however, free services exist for anyone to get health quotes from all the available providers very easily and quickly.

                  If you want more on American Medical Insurance Company and to obtain a free insurance quote, go here.


                  Article from articlesbase.com

                  Health Insurance

                  Revenue Cycle Management: Ten Tips to Maximize Revenue

                  Healthcare is one of few industries where services are not paid for when they are received.  Typically, one party (such as a doctor or hospital) provides services to a second party (a patient), but a third party (a health insurance carrier) is often involved in facilitating financial reimbursement for the services provided. 

                  Money keeps the practice in business.  Each phase of the revenue cycle is important, from payer contracts to charge capture and collections.  Knowing how to manage the revenue cycle not only ensures the financial viability of the practice, but also minimizes the time and effort spent collecting payment for services rendered.

                  The purpose of this article is to gain a better understanding of what you can do to efficiently manage the revenue cycle and how to maximize potential revenue.

                  1:     Review payer contracts

                  Payer contracts often contain complex reimbursement language and formulas that can be difficult to monitor and manage. It is important to know what you are agreeing to when you sign any contract, but especially when it comes to payer contracts.  Be sure you know and understand the expected reimbursement and contractual allowances before you sign.  Contract negotiations can be difficult, especially if you are a solo practitioner.  You have limited power to negotiate unless your specialty is in high demand and there are limited providers available in your geographic area.  When negotiating, be sure to optimize trade-offs and to understand the total value of the agreement prior to contract execution.  It could be beneficial to take less reimbursement on office visits if you can get more money on high dollar surgical procedures, but make sure you evaluate this against your current or expected volumes.

                  2:     Know the Law

                  Here in Indiana under the “Prompt Pay” law, payers must pay or deny a clean claim within 30 days of receipt if filed electronically and within 45 days of receipt if filed on paper.  Check the laws in your state to see if there are payer deadlines.  While the definition of a clean claim could be disputed, no response from a payer within the 30 to 45 day window should result in immediate follow up.  Medicare reimbursements are dispersed within 14 days of electronic claim submission, so inquiry on those unpaid claims should occur within 15 to 20 days. 

                  Most practice management systems will allow batching of unpaid claims by insurance type so that inquiry can be made on multiple claims with one phone call or internet inquiry.  Pending claims should be worked on a daily basis, beginning with accounts with the highest balance and oldest age first, such that every unpaid account is reviewed at least once every 30 days.

                  3:     Clean claims = fewer denials

                  A serious concern in healthcare reimbursement today is decreased or delayed reimbursement due to claim denials. The challenge is how to quickly identify the source of the denials and fix the problems.  Education is the key to clean claims.  Providers, front desk, billers and clinical staff all contribute to the information that is submitted on a claim.  Each individual needs to understand how their role impacts claim payment.  When denials are received, they should be identified with a reason code and posted in the practice management system so a denial report can be generated at month-end.  This gives managers a clear picture of where further education is needed.

                  4:     Respond promptly to claim denials

                  After receiving a claim denial it is important to correct the claim and rebill it to the insurance carrier promptly.  Claims often go unpaid and bump up against timely filing limits when the biller keeps a “zero pay folder” to work in the future.  Denied claims should be addressed daily as they are received. 

                  Each insurance carrier handles resubmitted claims differently so it is important to know what each carrier expects.   With some carriers, if the claim is simply rebilled electronically with no notation, the claim will be denied as a duplicate.   Some carriers will allow the provider’s office to fax a corrected claim directly to their claims processing department.  Others require that the claim be resubmitted either electronically or on paper. 

                  5:     Review payments carefully

                  Payers will often make mistakes when processing claims that need to be appealed for proper reimbursement.  The person posting payments must pay attention and question anything that does not look right.  Some things to watch for include:

                  dropped or missed procedures
                  one procedure bundled into another and paid based on one code instead of two
                  modifiers dropped that justify bundled procedures
                  multiple units ignored
                  payment based on the wrong fee schedule

                  The best practice management systems have the ability to load payer fee schedules so you know when payments are posted whether they were paid correctly or not.

                  6:     Appeal claims paid in error

                  Any services paid incorrectly should be appealed.  Sometimes errors can be addressed over the phone, but often they require a formal appeal letter.  It is important when appealing claims that a cover letter be submitted explaining why the claim is being appealed.  The cover letter also notifies the carrier of any attached documentation accompanying the claim.  Further documentation may include progress notes, lab or other test results, operative notes, fee schedules, copies of CPT guidelines or Medicare policies to support the appeal.  Keep copies of all appeals and the results for reference with future appeals.

                  7:     Don’t get frustrated, get help!

                  Practices should not hesitate to contact their State Insurance Commissioner’s office if they feel they are getting the run-around from a particular payer after reasonable attempts to collect. 

                  Find your state insurance commissioner at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.

                  Commissioner’s offices may be called with general questions, but in order for them to investigate a disputed claim they must have written documentation with as many details as possible. Documentation should include a copy of the insurance card, the claim form, and documentation reflecting all efforts to resolve the claim, as well as responses from the payer.  A separate complaint should be filed for each patient involved.  Most insurance companies respond quickly when the State Insurance Commissioner becomes involved.

                  8:     Patient balances

                  Sometimes asking patients for payment puts the office staff in an uncomfortable position, especially when the patient becomes disgruntled. However, most insurance companies require that the patient’s co-pay be collected at the time service is rendered. Staff members working at check-in and check-out should be comfortable asking for payment.  Often providing a script requesting payment helps staff members to be more comfortable and consistent with requesting payments. Contracted providers are obligated to collect the co-pay at the time of service.  Failure to do so could be a breach of contract.

                  The most important thing an office can do is to develop an office financial policy with regard to patient payments.  Developing an office policy is important to ensure that all patients will be treated the same with regards to financial payment.  A financial policy makes the patient aware of their responsibilities with regards to payment for services.  Outline in your policy the exact process which will be followed should the patient refuse to pay on their account.

                  Attempts to collect outstanding balances should be made each time the patient is seen.  The cost of pursuing payment after the patient leaves only decreases the value of the dollar collected.  The more time that passes the less valuable the dollar becomes and the more difficult it is to collect.  Patients know whether you are an office that expects payment or one that will extend free credit.  The most successful practices use one or more of these techniques:

                  Notify patients when scheduling and confirming appointments that they should 1) bring insurance cards and photo ID to each visit; and 2) come prepared to pay copays and outstanding balances at the time of service.  Let them know up front what credit cards you accept.
                  Collect copays and outstanding balances at check-in rather than check-out.  Staff should be direct without being rude when asking for money.  Confidently stating “Your copay is .  Will you be paying with cash, check or credit card?” is better than asking “You have a balance of 2.  Would you like to make a payment today or should we bill you?”  Why pay today if you don’t have to?  Your office is not a bank and should not routinely extend credit.
                  Start payment plans at a maximum of three to six months and a minimum of .  It costs money to send statements and process multiple payments.  Offer discounts if the balance is paid in full to get the account settled quickly.
                  Don’t spend money on statements to collect and balances.  Collect small balances the next time the patient is in the office.

                  9:     Hire and retain the best employees

                  Generating revenue is the most important task in the financial success of the medical office.  The people hired for these roles should be seen as an investment.  Ongoing training is critical to their success as the rules and regulations are constantly changing.  The cost of one seminar could easily be recouped in a couple of correctly billed surgeries.  Incorrect claims or missed charges could be costing you millions.  Invest in your billers and do everything you can to retain the best employees.  Workers who feel valued will usually deliver exceptional results.

                  10:   Monitor benchmarks and key performance indicators

                  Benchmarks and key performance indicators should be reviewed monthly.  Let your billers know what is expected so they can monitor and achieve the goals.  Analyze trends on a monthly basis and identify any warning signs before they become serious.  The following benchmarks are “best practice” and may be used as a baseline, but each specialty and/or practice may want to adjust these or reference MGMA benchmarks by specialty:

                  Average number of days revenue in A/R at a maximum of 35 days
                  A/R greater than 90 days less than 20% of total A/R
                  Credit balances less than 4% of total A/R
                  Bad debt write-off less than 2% of total charges
                  Net collection percentage 96% or greater

                  There are many other things you can review monthly that will help you monitor financial performance, including:

                  Procedure analysis compared to CMS Norms
                  Ratio of charges to payments and adjustments
                  Drop in reimbursement by individual payers

                  We are living in difficult times that require offices to do everything they can to keep the practice in business.  Every employee is valuable and should take responsibility for their role in the practice thus helping the revenue cycle to be clean and efficient.  This article has shown not only how to manage the revenue cycle and ensure the financial viability of the practice, but also minimize the time and effort spent collecting payment for services rendered.

                  Carol Hoppe is a Senior Consultant at InHealth, and the Director of Billing, Coding and Credentialing at  Indianapolis Medical Management.  She can be reached at carol.hoppe@inhealthconsulting.com

                  Efficiency in Practice is the free eNewsletter for medical practice managers who want to save time, money and reduce risk.  For more information and to access your FREE report, The 8 Things You MUST Know About CMS’ RAC Program, visit www.efficiencyinpractice.com 

                  This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box are included.


                  Article from articlesbase.com

                  Health Insurance

                  Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out

                  Read the following list and then decide what action is most important:

                  a) Renew the Bush tax cuts in order to provide some certainty to households and small businesses in the country and make sure that disposable income is kept in the private sector of the market and economy. Hopefully, this renewal would help getting the economy moving again rather than sending this disposable income to the political class where it will almost likely be wasted without and corresponding economic benefit.

                  b) Change the section of Obama Care that requires 40 million United States businesses to file 1099 tax forms for every vendor they spend over 0 with during the year, allowing those businesses to use these resources to expand their businesses and the economy rather than wasting these resources on meaningless bureaucratic waste and nonsense. Changing this section would remove a large amount of uncertainty from the minds of business owners and allow them to focus on what they do best, operate a business.

                  c) Pass a real budget for the country and the Federal government rather than throwing together yet another continuing budget resolution to keep the country bureaurcracy running in a haphazard way. Planning out a consistent and effective budget that reduces the uncertainty in the country and the market caused by this continuing resolution nonsense would be what is best for the nation’s citizens and businesses.

                  d) Finally pass a permanent health insurance coverage bill for those brave Americans that rushed to Ground Zero after 9-11 to help out their fellow citizens as much as possible but who are now suffering the health ills that resulted from their brave actions in 2001.

                  e) Conduct the House of Representatives trials of Democrats Charles Rangel and Maxine Walters, as proposed by the House ethics committee set up Democrat Nancy Pelosi, in order to provide swift justice or redemption to Rangel and Walters and prove to the nation that Congress actually cares about corruption.

                  f) Reign in the unconstitutional power grab by the EPA on regulating emissions without approval by Congress and approve the bill proposed by three prominent Democratic Senators to do just this, restore the balance of power as mapped out by the Constitution.

                  g) Start addressing real issues including failing public schools, war on the drugs, leaky borders and non-existent immigration policy, skyrocketing deficicts and unacceptably high unemployment.

                  h) Get out of Washington D.C. as soon as possible and save your own political career prior to the November elections.

                  I would bet that when forced to choose from the above list, most mature, caring, patriotic Americans would pick one of the first seven choices. Unfortunately, most of the people in our political class what not fall into this group of Americans and have already opted for the last option, get out of town to protect their political careers. With all of the issues facing America today, our politicians have again taken the selfish, immature route of only looking out for their own self interests.

                  The uncertainty they have created in the market with their increased paper work requirements, non-resolution of the Bush tax cuts, and the absence of a full budget have further delayed the improvement of the economy and unemployment. The postponement of the corruption charges just reinforces the  reality that politicians’ self interest is better than clean government. Suffering first responders will just have to hang tough until after the elections, the future status of their health care insurance delayed again. Damage to the Constitution, we can fix that later. Schools, drugs, deficits, unemployment, etc.: hey, we have not done anything on those issues so far so why the rush now?

                  This behavior is despicable. The selfishness of these actions reprehensible. They leave us only two choices:

                  In November, despite the extra time the incumbents will be spent campaigning, please vote out all incumbents regardless of their party affiliation. They are all to be blamed for leaving such vital unfinished business back in the Capital while they look to save their own skin.
                  Longer term, we need to install term limits on all Federal politicians. We should make all politicians lame ducks the first day they come into office. That way they may not be in such a rush to leave unfinished work just so that they can work on their re-election campaign. 

                  If we can do both of these steps then I would gladly hold the door open for them so that it does not hit them on the way out (just as long as they cannot come back in that door or any other door.)

                  Walter “Bruno” Korschek is the author of the book, “Love My Country, Loathe My Government. – Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom and Destroying The American Political Class,” which is available at www.loathemygovernment.com and online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Our daily dialog on freedom in American can be joined at www.loathemygovernment.blogspot.,com.


                  Article from articlesbase.com


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                    Electronic Medical Records – The Pros and Cons

                    In this digital age, more and more bulks of information which used to be paper-based, from library catalogues to telephone books, are digitized and stored in a central location for easy access. The idea of EMRs started about 40 years ago.

                    The main proponents of EMRs cite the following advantages:

                    (1) The use of EHRs supposedly reduces errors in medical records. There is no doubt that handwritten records are subject to lots of human errors due to misspelling, illegibility, and differing terminologies. With the use of EMRs standardization of patient health records may eventually become acheivable.

                    (2) Paper records can be easily lost. We have heard how fires, floods and other natural catastrophes destroy physical records of many years, data which are lost forever. Digital records can be stored virtually forever and can be kept long after the physical records are gone. EMRs also help keep records of health information that patients tend to forget with time, i.e. inoculations, previous illnesses and medications.

                    (3) EMRs make health care cost-efficient by consolidating all data in one place. Previously, paper-based records are located in different places and getting access to all of them takes a lot of time and money. In a systematic review, Kripalani et al. evaluated the communication transfer between primary care physicians and hospital-based physicians and found significant deficits in medical information exchange. The review recommended the use of EMRs to resolve these issues and facilitate the continuity of care before, during and after hospitalization. EMRs translates into better treatment for patients. Take the example of one asthma center’s experience with EMR: “A major benefit associated with EMR implementation was the increase in the number of children who were hospitalized with an asthma exacerbation and received an asthma action plan upon discharge. Prior to the EMR system, [only] 4% received an asthma action plan upon discharge. After implementation of the EMR system, 58% received an asthma action plan upon discharge.”

                    (4) EMRs can save lives. VeriChip, developed by VeriChip Corporation is the first one of its kind ever approved by the US FDA. It enables rapid identification of at-risk patients and access to their medical history, thereby enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment especially in emergency situations. Classic examples are people with diabetes and/or heart problems who have high risk of collapsing and having attacks. VeriChip is also useful in vehicular accidents and other trauma incidents where the victims aren’t capable of answering questions. In cases of large-scale catastrophes, VeriChip facilitates tracking and identification of victims. According to a coroner in Mississippi, VeriChip helped identify victims during the Hurricane Katrina incident.

                    Earlier this year, Google Health was launched, an online personalized health records service. Google Health is based on the principle that since it’s the patient’s medical record, the patient should control it, decide what should be in it, and who gets access to it. One of the features of the service includes records from hospitals and pharmacies that are Google Health-enabled or are registered Google Health partners.

                    The HealthVault is another online health information storage service offered by Microsoft with features similar to Google Health. Keith Toussaint, senior program manager with Microsoft HealthVault recently stated ” leading hospitals like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are actually integrating their systems with both us and Google — because some people like one or the other. It’s a Coke or Pepsi thing.”

                    What are the disadvantages of EMRs? Not surprisingly, privacy rights advocacy groups are the main opponent of EMRs. Here is what they have to say:

                    (1) EMRs threaten our privacy. In this day and age when people’s mantra is “I need my privacy”, not many people are comfortable about having their entire medical history recorded and digitized for almost just anybody to see – in other words, incursion into people’s privacy. The confidentiality of doctor – patient relationship is still sacrosanct. Besides, medical data can be used against a person in some cases – be it for a job application, insurance coverage or a college scholarship. Although it is against the law to discriminate against people with illnesses and disabilities, it is a fact of life that the fitter you are, the more competitive you are in the job market. The planned incorporation of genetic data in EMRs further adds to people’s fear of incursion into their private sphere.

                    (2) EMRs can lead to loss of the human touch in health care. In the process of digitalization, the interpersonal aspect in health care may be lost. In handwritten hospital charts, doctors and other health care practitioners may write what they think and they feel based on their personal observations in their very own words. EMR is simply about ticking off boxes and crossing out things in electronic forms. The doctors are forced to think in categories and can seldom express a personal opinion on an individual case. Because of the lack of flexibility of many electronic reporting systems, cases of misclassification of patients and their conditions have been reported.

                    (3) EMRs are not that efficient. Despite efforts in digitalization and standardization, EMRs are actually far from being standardized and not as efficient as it is purported to be. It often happens that one clinic’s EMR system is not compatible with that of a general practitioner or another clinic’s system, thus belying the claim of added efficiency. In addition, not all users of EMRs are satisfied with the current state of the art. Although the objective is mainly efficiency and healthcare quality, one study showed that nurses in the Netherlands are not completely satisfied with their EMR implemented in 2006-2007.

                    (4) EMRs are not safe and secure. Google Health and HealthVault are quick in assuring patients of the safety of their online health accounts. Access to the patient’s account is only possible using log ins and password. In addition, HealthVault assures that “all health information transmitted between HealthVault servers and program providers’ systems is encrypted” and that Microsoft does it best to use the “highest standards of security to safeguard consumer health information from theft, loss, or damage.”

                    However, there are cases wherein passwords and encryptions do not seem to be adequate as data protection tools. Stories of data hacking, stolen identities and blackmail abound. Even high security databases such as those run by banks and credit institutions are often compromised. This impression was aggravated by the many well-publicized incidences of data loss or breach. A few examples are listed below:

                    November 26, 2007, Canada. Hackers accessed medical information on HIV and hepatitis from a Canadian health agency computer. – September 22, 2008, UK. The National Health Service (NHS) reported the loss of 4 CDs in the mail containing information on 17,990 employees. – September 30, 2008, US. The company Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana confirmed breach of personal data, including Social Security numbers, phone numbers and addresses of about 1,700 brokers. The data was accidentally attached to a general email.

                    In addition, there is criticism over Google Health not being a “covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the regulations promulgated thereunder (HIPAA)” under its terms and conditions and is therefore not subject to HIPAA privacy of individually identifiable health information. The HealthVault terms and conditions do not mention HIPAA privacy laws so it is not clear what its status is regarding this issue.

                    (5) VeriChip is not for humans. It is to be expected that although many of us are amenable to the use of RFID chips in pets, the idea of implanting similar chips in human beings is bound to raise hackles in humans, no matter what the US FDA says. A big opponent of the VeriChip and similar chips of its kind is the consumer advocacy group Spychip.com. In a position paper, Spychip and many advocacy and consumer awareness groups see RFID tagging (be it on your person or on the items you buy) as a major threat to privacy and civil liberties. They see the tagging as some kind of “Big Brother” operation. Another group, the No VeriChip Inside Movement, likens VeriChip as “cataloguing” humans similar to the way the Nazis have tattooed numbers on the skin of concentration camp detainees. Popular Hollywood films on privacy incursions (e.g. The Net, Public Enemy No. 1) increased further people’s paranoia about personal data.

                    Where do we go from here? Without doubt, we have the technology to make EMRs standardized and efficient. Google Health, Microsoft HealthVault and similar online personalized health information accounts are enabling patients to take control of their medical records. The main issues that need to be overcome are data security, protection of privacy and gaining the confidence of the patients. It doesn’t seem evident that the use of RFID and similar tagging chips will become acceptable or popular anytime soon. However, we live in a digital world and we cannot hold back progress indefinitely. With improved technology and data protection tools, let us hope the EMR issue will be resolved soon.

                    The article Electronic Medical Records – The Pros and Cons may be found in its entirety with references and links on http://HealthWorldNet.com .


                    Article from articlesbase.com


                    Related Blogs

                    Health Insurance

                    Electronic Medical Records – The Pros and Cons

                    In this digital age, more and more bulks of information which used to be paper-based, from library catalogues to telephone books, are digitized and stored in a central location for easy access. The idea of EMRs started about 40 years ago.

                    The main proponents of EMRs cite the following advantages:

                    (1) The use of EHRs supposedly reduces errors in medical records. There is no doubt that handwritten records are subject to lots of human errors due to misspelling, illegibility, and differing terminologies. With the use of EMRs standardization of patient health records may eventually become acheivable.

                    (2) Paper records can be easily lost. We have heard how fires, floods and other natural catastrophes destroy physical records of many years, data which are lost forever. Digital records can be stored virtually forever and can be kept long after the physical records are gone. EMRs also help keep records of health information that patients tend to forget with time, i.e. inoculations, previous illnesses and medications.

                    (3) EMRs make health care cost-efficient by consolidating all data in one place. Previously, paper-based records are located in different places and getting access to all of them takes a lot of time and money. In a systematic review, Kripalani et al. evaluated the communication transfer between primary care physicians and hospital-based physicians and found significant deficits in medical information exchange. The review recommended the use of EMRs to resolve these issues and facilitate the continuity of care before, during and after hospitalization. EMRs translates into better treatment for patients. Take the example of one asthma center’s experience with EMR: “A major benefit associated with EMR implementation was the increase in the number of children who were hospitalized with an asthma exacerbation and received an asthma action plan upon discharge. Prior to the EMR system, [only] 4% received an asthma action plan upon discharge. After implementation of the EMR system, 58% received an asthma action plan upon discharge.”

                    (4) EMRs can save lives. VeriChip, developed by VeriChip Corporation is the first one of its kind ever approved by the US FDA. It enables rapid identification of at-risk patients and access to their medical history, thereby enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment especially in emergency situations. Classic examples are people with diabetes and/or heart problems who have high risk of collapsing and having attacks. VeriChip is also useful in vehicular accidents and other trauma incidents where the victims aren’t capable of answering questions. In cases of large-scale catastrophes, VeriChip facilitates tracking and identification of victims. According to a coroner in Mississippi, VeriChip helped identify victims during the Hurricane Katrina incident.

                    Earlier this year, Google Health was launched, an online personalized health records service. Google Health is based on the principle that since it’s the patient’s medical record, the patient should control it, decide what should be in it, and who gets access to it. One of the features of the service includes records from hospitals and pharmacies that are Google Health-enabled or are registered Google Health partners.

                    The HealthVault is another online health information storage service offered by Microsoft with features similar to Google Health. Keith Toussaint, senior program manager with Microsoft HealthVault recently stated ” leading hospitals like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are actually integrating their systems with both us and Google — because some people like one or the other. It’s a Coke or Pepsi thing.”

                    What are the disadvantages of EMRs? Not surprisingly, privacy rights advocacy groups are the main opponent of EMRs. Here is what they have to say:

                    (1) EMRs threaten our privacy. In this day and age when people’s mantra is “I need my privacy”, not many people are comfortable about having their entire medical history recorded and digitized for almost just anybody to see – in other words, incursion into people’s privacy. The confidentiality of doctor – patient relationship is still sacrosanct. Besides, medical data can be used against a person in some cases – be it for a job application, insurance coverage or a college scholarship. Although it is against the law to discriminate against people with illnesses and disabilities, it is a fact of life that the fitter you are, the more competitive you are in the job market. The planned incorporation of genetic data in EMRs further adds to people’s fear of incursion into their private sphere.

                    (2) EMRs can lead to loss of the human touch in health care. In the process of digitalization, the interpersonal aspect in health care may be lost. In handwritten hospital charts, doctors and other health care practitioners may write what they think and they feel based on their personal observations in their very own words. EMR is simply about ticking off boxes and crossing out things in electronic forms. The doctors are forced to think in categories and can seldom express a personal opinion on an individual case. Because of the lack of flexibility of many electronic reporting systems, cases of misclassification of patients and their conditions have been reported.

                    (3) EMRs are not that efficient. Despite efforts in digitalization and standardization, EMRs are actually far from being standardized and not as efficient as it is purported to be. It often happens that one clinic’s EMR system is not compatible with that of a general practitioner or another clinic’s system, thus belying the claim of added efficiency. In addition, not all users of EMRs are satisfied with the current state of the art. Although the objective is mainly efficiency and healthcare quality, one study showed that nurses in the Netherlands are not completely satisfied with their EMR implemented in 2006-2007.

                    (4) EMRs are not safe and secure. Google Health and HealthVault are quick in assuring patients of the safety of their online health accounts. Access to the patient’s account is only possible using log ins and password. In addition, HealthVault assures that “all health information transmitted between HealthVault servers and program providers’ systems is encrypted” and that Microsoft does it best to use the “highest standards of security to safeguard consumer health information from theft, loss, or damage.”

                    However, there are cases wherein passwords and encryptions do not seem to be adequate as data protection tools. Stories of data hacking, stolen identities and blackmail abound. Even high security databases such as those run by banks and credit institutions are often compromised. This impression was aggravated by the many well-publicized incidences of data loss or breach. A few examples are listed below:

                    November 26, 2007, Canada. Hackers accessed medical information on HIV and hepatitis from a Canadian health agency computer. – September 22, 2008, UK. The National Health Service (NHS) reported the loss of 4 CDs in the mail containing information on 17,990 employees. – September 30, 2008, US. The company Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana confirmed breach of personal data, including Social Security numbers, phone numbers and addresses of about 1,700 brokers. The data was accidentally attached to a general email.

                    In addition, there is criticism over Google Health not being a “covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the regulations promulgated thereunder (HIPAA)” under its terms and conditions and is therefore not subject to HIPAA privacy of individually identifiable health information. The HealthVault terms and conditions do not mention HIPAA privacy laws so it is not clear what its status is regarding this issue.

                    (5) VeriChip is not for humans. It is to be expected that although many of us are amenable to the use of RFID chips in pets, the idea of implanting similar chips in human beings is bound to raise hackles in humans, no matter what the US FDA says. A big opponent of the VeriChip and similar chips of its kind is the consumer advocacy group Spychip.com. In a position paper, Spychip and many advocacy and consumer awareness groups see RFID tagging (be it on your person or on the items you buy) as a major threat to privacy and civil liberties. They see the tagging as some kind of “Big Brother” operation. Another group, the No VeriChip Inside Movement, likens VeriChip as “cataloguing” humans similar to the way the Nazis have tattooed numbers on the skin of concentration camp detainees. Popular Hollywood films on privacy incursions (e.g. The Net, Public Enemy No. 1) increased further people’s paranoia about personal data.

                    Where do we go from here? Without doubt, we have the technology to make EMRs standardized and efficient. Google Health, Microsoft HealthVault and similar online personalized health information accounts are enabling patients to take control of their medical records. The main issues that need to be overcome are data security, protection of privacy and gaining the confidence of the patients. It doesn’t seem evident that the use of RFID and similar tagging chips will become acceptable or popular anytime soon. However, we live in a digital world and we cannot hold back progress indefinitely. With improved technology and data protection tools, let us hope the EMR issue will be resolved soon.

                    The article Electronic Medical Records – The Pros and Cons may be found in its entirety with references and links on http://HealthWorldNet.com .


                    Article from articlesbase.com


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                    Lose Weight And Save Money!

                    When trying to lose weight, it’s easy to become focused on shedding the pounds rather than saving them. Losing weight offers more benefits than just those associated with our bodies as you could also stand to save a substantial amount of money along the way to a healthier you.

                    When embarking on your weight loss journey, the first area you should notice a dramatic saving is in your shopping bill. Obesity is linked to a range of reasons but a big cause of weight problems comes from an unhealthy diet fuelled by take-away dinners,ready meals and constant snacking on fatty and sugary foods. By making a meal plan, dieters are not only able to monitor what they are eating but also plan better for a healthier diet which is subsequently much cheaper. The cost of buying in a Chinese take-away for example could cost in the region of £10 – £15 while the homemade equivalent is more likely to cost around £5. Taking the time to prepare your own meals allows you to regulate the amount of salt, fat and other nasties that are unhealthy yet common place in fast food.

                    Once addressing dietary issues, those on a health kick should also turn their attention to public transport and car use. While public transport can be relatively cost effective and a necessary expenditure, deciding to walk or cycle during shorter journeys will allow you to make noticeable savings. Walking to cycling to and from work also counts towards your recommended daily exercise quota of one hour which could also see you skip on a gym membership – another worthwhile saving. In extreme cases of obesity, individuals can in fact find it more expensive to travel than those that are slimmer. Some airlines in particular charge heavyweight passengers two seats due to weight, size and health & safety restrictions meaning it saves to be a slimmer flier.

                    Surprisingly, those who a more active and lead a healthier lifestyle are not only slimmer but also have lower energy bills. Individuals who spend more time in front of the television, computer or indoors as a whole will use more gas and electricity to heat their home and run their appliances. People who spend more time outside exercising or generally enjoying life beyond their front door will use less energy. Further still, some eco-conscious individuals have even taken to collecting energy generated from their home exercise bike or rowing machine to power lights and television sets proving how it losing weight and enjoying exercise can also save you money!

                    Finally, and perhaps the most important point, is how weight lose can save you money on medical, dental and ophthalmic treatment. Getting your 5 a day, exercising regularly and avoiding junk food and other unhealthy practices greatly affects your health not only in the present but in the future as well. Go to a life insurance comparison site or apply for health insurance and you might find that obesity is classified as an illness that could affect your premium. Losing weight will not only save you money but also protect you from other illnesses that could see your medical bills spiral out of control.

                    Harvey is passionate about health and fitness.


                    Article from articlesbase.com

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