Bonnie and Sandy,

Thank you for weighing in.

To answer questions raised:

*I and Karen Vogel, who has had the majority of contact with the daughter, are not near the client and thus could not have a sit down. In my practice, I rarely meet my clients given geographic constraints or lack of necessity.

*The father/patient signed the HIPAA form…[Read more]

Hi AnnMarie,

The elderly “client” and an adult child as the financially responsible party or the Health Care Agent is the norm for my practice. My first thought was who is the client and who signed the contract? Maybe that doesn’t matter either? It does seem very odd that the daughter is “managing” the care without a POA already in place. I…[Read more]

I have seen and heard about that — push the patient out regardless of how they are or if they are ready. I agree, hospital are now “follow the money” and don’t really care much about the patient.

As recent as yesterday, a hospital case manager told a friend …..who had been in MICU, recently moved to floor, hadn’t eaten more than a grape for 2 weeks, barely drinking, infected beyond belief with peritonitis, nauseous, vomiting, and with nearly uncontrollable pain, just barely had started eating and drinking and finally with adequate pain…[Read more]

APHA offers several forms and contracts available to members. The ones you need to use will be dependent on what you’re trying to accomplish and the laws where you live (they vary state by state).

Here are the contracts for PACE members.

Here are the contracts for Premium members.

You’ll also want to develop your own forms for your specific use…[Read more]

Until 20 years ago, the mantra of the healthcare system was “Follow the Patient.”

Now there is little regard for the patient except as a revenue stream. The mantra has become “Follow the Money.”

As Linda says – the entire system is ripe for disruption. Each time I hear about a new change to the system, no matter where that change in the system…[Read more]

I always find this sort of situation when I have elderly parents and adult children requesting my services. I usually have a face-to-face sit-down meeting to be sure everyone is on the same page and clear the lines of communication and who is the true client (where my business responsibilities lie).

And although I have an adult child as a…[Read more]

One thing that these merging providers and/or companies have to do is make sure that the patients are updated and aware of the new provisions before an emergency strikes. I have found there to be a lack of this information being passed on.
For example here in CT, 3 hospital facilities merged into 1. My client went to her local hospital only to…[Read more]

Hi Jenny,

Thanks for the link and for a thought-provoking post. I too feel concern about the changing healthcare system: but I also maintain some optimism that this is exactly the kind of development that makes an industry ripe for disruption. Therefore, it leaves an opportunity for the savvy advocate to find creative solutions.

I’ve been…[Read more]

I use the Official State of Texas HIPAA form and that has never failed to open doors/communications with health care providers.

I used to do the Personal Health Information release for insurance companies, but that took forever to get it into client’s files—so if the client’s feel comfortable, I just log in to their insurance portal and work…[Read more]