Healthcare Shopper News

For the informed consumer of health care

August 2006 Monthly Archive

Wealth Care - Personal Medical Service at a Price

Some doctors are charging $1,500 to $1,900 a year, to give patients telephone access at all times, same-day appointments and, in some cases, house calls. Concierge practices typically limit the number of patients to no more than 600. That contrasts with as many as 3,000 in a traditional internal medicine practice. Patients in these practices generally fall into two categories. One is busy, successful executives who want personalized care around their schedule. The other is retirees with multiple medical problems... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 31, 2006 3:46 PM
| Comments (0)


Electronic medical records - It can't happen fast enough

A big push is on to convert medical records from paper and film to digital records. (See New York Times article, "Smart Care Via a Mouse, but What Will It Cost?" The obvious benefit for us as consumers of healthcare is based on instant access to our medical records by doctors who may be faced with saving our lives, perhaps away from home. The obvious concern is about privacy and security. What the enthusiasm is really about: not computers and... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 31, 2006 3:10 PM
| Comments (0)


How to get the most out of your doctor visit

I had a routine physical a couple of weeks ago, something I do every 3 years, and I was back at home before I realized I hadn't asked my doctor several questions that had been on my mind for months. Apparently, I'm not alone. Research shows that although most people claim to want as much information about their medical conditions and treatments as they can get, even the most confident are struck dumb (even with their clothes on) when talking... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 31, 2006 2:12 PM
| Comments (0)


Fake Drugs from Canada

I have been buying my wife's prescription drugs at CanadaDrugs.com for a couple of years now and have been very satisfied with the price, quality, and service. Buyers must beware, though, because not all prescription drug web sites using the name Canada are selling genuine drugs. Some are not even in Canada. The FDA just released (Aug. 31, 2006 ) the following list of companies selling fake drugs and recommends that people who have bought drugs from these web sites... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 31, 2006 1:42 PM
| Comments (0)


Health insurance literacy for young adults

Young adults are dropped from their parents health plans between age 19 and 24. Most people this age know practically nothing about health insurance and many could care less. Unless their parents lead them by the nose or purchase individual plans for them, they are at a loss. Sponsored by Aetna and the Financial Planning Association, the interactive website, AllAboutTheBenefits.com, guides young workers through typical experiences with information and real world examples - - graduating from high school or college,... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 30, 2006 2:22 PM
| Comments (0)


Docs billing for administrative extras

Brace yourselves, according to a recent Los Angeles Times article doctors are billing for things like prescription refill requests, copies of medical records, phone consultations, family medical leave forms, medical disability forms, waivers of insurance premiums, waivers for handicapped plates. Other physicians, notably pediatricians, charge patients for after-hours calls, passing on the $15 or $20 per call that they're billed by the answering service. Almost unheard of five years ago, the practice has disgruntled some. The article quotes, Arthur Levin,... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 30, 2006 11:23 AM
| Comments (2)


We need to know what medical procedures cost

I've talked about medical cost transparency (clearly stating the cost of medical services) by hospitals and doctors previously. While doctors and hospitals continue to drag their feet, the federal government and some insurers have begun to respond. Last week, President Bush signed an executive order requiring four federal agencies to compile and release information about the quality and price of health care provided to people they cover. Medicare now posts on its website how much it pays for 30 medical... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 30, 2006 10:41 AM
| Comments (0)


HSAs move to the front

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are going to be the most prominent health plan option for the individual buying his or her own health insurance within a year or two. In five to ten years. I think, it will be the only option for many Americans on employer paid health plans. Why? Because the premiums for traditional health insurance keep going up, and by using HSA-linked plans, employers can more precisely budget what their health tabs will be. “With traditional insurance... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 29, 2006 4:24 PM
| Comments (0)


Push is on to insure the Young Invincibles

Young adults make up the fastest growing portion of the uninsured population. Insurance companies refer to them as “Young Invincibles”, probably because people at this age think that they will last forever. Many colleges have begun to require students to purchase health insurance - either private insurance on their own or a university policy. College students are already more likely to be insured than others their age. Most state laws let parents keep college students on their policies until age... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 29, 2006 3:05 PM
| Comments (0)


Medical billing patient advocates can help?

Now that I'm paying a bigger share of my healthcare costs. (I have a high-deductible PPO plan and a Health Savings Account), I am more careful about reviewing bills from doctors and hospitals than I was back in the day when my employers health plan paid for everything. Even though I'm in the healthcare business, it's very difficult to for me know if there is a mistake in a bill. That's because everything is coded, making it practically incomprehensible for... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on August 29, 2006 2:38 PM
| Comments (0)