lisaberryB

Don’t wait on any transplant team, as nationwide there are more organ transplant candidates than there are available organs. Each insurance policy has its own network of transplant providers. As soon as you identify the AZ insurance, I suggest reviewing and understanding that policy’s organ transplant in-network providers. Identify a few, as it…[Read more]

Oops. Correct email: lisaberryb@stanfordalumni.org

Obtaining a kidney transplant is actually a highly political process within transplant centers in major medical centers nationwide. A candidate, while in need, will only be accepted if the odds are high his/her transplant will be successful. Each insurance company has a network of transplant centers it will work with, so it’s important to know i…[Read more]

I never pursue the small claims court option unless there is clear cause to do so. The process is fairly straightforward and there are small claims advisers in each county courthouse that can assist with the process. It’s important to know that attorneys are not allowed to represent a client in small claims court. I’m not an attorney and have had…[Read more]

Excellent post, Jennifer. You raise excellent issues to cover. Over the years I’ve discovered it’s most efficient to prepare a letter to an insurance company that encompasses everything you mention, and sent it straight to their legal counsel, bypassing the undertrained/underpaid underlings who have little motivation to help us. I send my cor…[Read more]

I suggest keeping it very simple. My contracts state either party can terminate our agreement at any time. No explanation necessary. Because I collect my fee in advance, my contract states a pro-rated refund will be paid in the event of termination. This tends to weed out troublemaker clients. I’ve only had to utilize this feature a few times o…[Read more]

Marshall Allen not only mentions hiring a patient advocate several times, but he also lists the AdvoConnection as a specific place to find us!

Hospital staff are so overwhelmed I find it nearly impossible to get anything meaningfully done by telephone. Documenting requests regarding patient status, plan of care, medication, etc. via fax (every nurses’ station has one) has proven much more successful than calling. Documentation, in my experience, creates a responsibility for a response.

In my experience, directing your request to the head of the infectious disease department of any hospital, providing valid reasons why your access to your hospitalized client is essential, is the key. Having your own medical grade PPE is also a plus. Good luck.

Kidney transplants can be received from either a deceased or living donor. In my experience, it’s vital to know that the wait for deceased donors is much longer than living donors. Kidneys received from living donors last longer as well. Many insurance companies only cover these type of organ donations performed by medical centers affiliated w…[Read more]

I believe coordinated care at a major medical center where an interdisciplinary approach is available would be helpful. An infectious disease physician would be most qualified to determine whether another surgery is feasible. This, at least, was my experience last year with a client in a similar situation. Good luck to all.

I also recommend Katy Butler’s newly released book “ The Art of Dying Well.” It’s being well received and she’s on a national book tour now promoting it.

I had a client , Sherri, who suffered from intractable chronic pain involving her digestive tract. She traveled to Los Angeles so I could accompany her to a major medical center here, where she was admitted into the hospital after an exhausting 10 hour wait in the ER. After spending over 24 consecutive hours with Sherri, I went home for some rest,…[Read more]

Ev, Interesting comments. Who are “they” that you write possess a license to kill? Are you implying the healthcare/healthscare system’s agents will literally kill advocates who disrupt their cash cow? I value my reputation (not to mention my life!) I have already discussed this matter with my attorney. I feel to be ethical in Healthcare Advoc…[Read more]

Great information, Steve. My information regarding the interpretation of AB-72 comes from Consumers Union, a nonprofit policy and advocacy group connected to Consumer Reports. My best guess is that with all laws, interpretation and enforcement can differ. I use AB-72 in relation to PPO disputes in California often and have never had a problem.…[Read more]

In medical billing matters there is no need for a billing advocate to be located near the healthcare provider issuing an inflated/disputed bill. The only requirements are knowledge of deciphering itemized medical bills compared against medical records. When the two don’t match, or if the charge is overinflated, a billing advocate has grounds to n…[Read more]

In California, effective 01 July 2017, Assembly Bill (AB) 72 went into effect which states it is illegal for any out-of-Network healthcare provider (hospitals, outside physicians, diagnostics testing; everything) to balance bill a patient for any type of emergency services. AB-72 applies to all insurance plans. This stuff is so boring but so…[Read more]

I’ve received several inquiries from people who have never heard of Patient Advocacy before this piece aired. Great to see this kind of coverage!