Houstonhealth

Hey Janet,

Setting up a company page is easy, breezy! And once you set up a company page & post there, LinkedIn will automatically ask if you want to post on your personal page—so you get a two-fer out of the deal! A chance to post twice!! Highly recommend!

And BTW, if you don’t set up a FB page for your company–FB will set up one for you.…[Read more]

Here’s my 2 LinkedIn profiles—anyone else have company pages too?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniesheerenbcpa/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/houston-health-advocacy/

Bonnie Sheeren
Houston Health Advocacy

A huge red flag from this potential client: wanting you to give the name of “a” doctor! When people want medical care for a certain issue—I tell them I have to dive in & pull together all the info on all the specialists that see those types of patients. I try to send at least 3 names with background information–and that requires research…[Read more]

Hi CarolAnne,

If your client is trying to come to TIRR here in Houston, TX & you clear the path for a transfer (not sounding promising from your description, but there’s always a chance)—be sure & reach out to either me or Angie Galatas (https://medicaladvocacyplus.com/) as we live really close to the TX Med Center & can help with any…[Read more]

Hey Cathy,

If you’ve never accessed the AZ Pt Advocate Assoc—this is a great chance to get to know them! (They also have great webinars—so if anyone wants to get on their mailing list–really interesting info!)

https://www.arizonaapa.org/

Thanks so much Karen!!

Bonnie
Houston Health Advocacy

Your request seems to be more about appealing for more appropriate and effective treatment for your client outside their HMO? Learning to do appeals is one of the best things you can do. If you have a good command of oncology information, then take that information to prove that only doctors/facilities can adequately address your client’s…[Read more]

I spoke to a “financial counselor” with the hospital and she DID NOT KNOW what all these abbreviations meant! Seriously!!! So they have a “cost estimator” so I’m going to try that tool to see if the charges were reasonable.

It would be good to know what these “costs” listed on their spreadsheet mean–so that looking at the insurance contracted…[Read more]

Yes! I LOVE to guide people through MD Anderson! It has become so large since I worked there—it’s really intimidating for new patients!

Hope your client gets the care she needs!

If this man had Adriamycin (doxorubicin) for his leukemia–it’s a cardiotoxic chemotherapy with a lifetime limit. Some oncologists are not as careful as they should be with dosing–and they put the patient’s heart in jeopardy. It is a great treatment in the correct hands.

“What type of cardiomyopathy is caused by doxorubicin?
Doxorubicin (Dox)…[Read more]

Here’s the MD Anderson referral process:

https://bit.ly/3ar306F

She could come in as a new patient to MDA, but they might want to do a complete workup–she’d have to call & discuss her particular details.

Also, MDA (as well as other comprehensive cancer centers) offers an a la carte pathology service where her biopsy slides can be sent there…[Read more]

This is what I’ve added to the bottom of my invoices. I’ve never had feedback from former clients but hoping that if they submit my charges on their tax returns, the IRS will recognize us as a vital part of health care expenses!

“Please keep this invoice for your records to ask your tax preparer if you may deduct my professional services for…[Read more]

Unfortunately, as I tell my clients–as an advocate, I’m usually at the opposite end of the table when it comes to insurance companies! Unless health plans are willing to cover my clients for all their necessary medical needs—not sure those plans want to pay me!

And I think we are not only patient advocates but patients (as well as our loved ones!) I try out every platform available to me as a “patient” if possible (budget-wise & time-wise) so that I have first-hand experience!

Thanks for reminding us about Picnic Health! I’ve been meaning to research & will put on my “to do” list this week!

Durable power of attorney is only about financial matters, such as bank accounts, assets, etc.? Are they blocking you with this b/c you are asking about Medicare coverage/client payments?

If you’re not controlling your client’s finances, then a HIPAA should work (I use the official state of TX HIPAA which has an option for my clients to release…[Read more]

Thanks for bringing up Lewy Body Dementia, Jen! My friend’s mom had Lewy Body Dementia (undiagnosed at the time) & got away from her caretaker at their home & called 911 as her husband was having an emergency.

My friend called me from work in a panic & had me race over to their home to let the first responders know that the husband having the…[Read more]

I think Trisha brings up an important point–it’s not for us to steer our clients to see certain specialists–we can suggest options that we think might be helpful, but many of our clients will only truly respond to a medical professional.

It is important, if possible, to establish good relationships with the Primary Care Providers in our…[Read more]

This sounds like an employer-based, self-funded plan? Employers can pick & choose what to exclude (outside of standard medical care) certain benefits. If so, you’ll have to do the appeals process: usually 2 internal appeals, then this goes to an outside company for external appeals. The external appeal has to be well-documented (medical…[Read more]