follow the money
Ac-cen-tu-ate – the Negative?
It’s time to take a trip with the Way-Back Machine to a song many of us heard when we were kids – because our parents played it on the radio or record player. We all sang along! With lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and sung by Ella Fitzgerald (that’s Ella in the photo above), the song…
Read MoreSo What Are You S’Posed to Do With Those Hospital Prices?
In the category of “be careful what you wish for…” Well-meaning policy people have now created a monster. We can name this monster “Good Start,” but it’s not a very useful monster – yet. That monster rears its ugly head in the form of the new law that became effective January 1, 2019 that requires…
Read MoreDid You Get Something That Looks Like a Medicare Card in the Mail?
The envelope says its from Medicare. The card inside looks very official. It’s got your name on it, and a bunch of numbers and letters that don’t look at all familiar. But – can you trust it? Is this new Medicare card for real? Can you use it with your doctor and other medical needs?…
Read MoreBlack Box Warnings May Save Your Life
This often comes as a major surprise for patients: that when a prescription drug is known to be effective, and is approved by the FDA for some patients, that doesn’t mean it’s effective and safe for all patients. It’s true that some people may be allergic, or the drug might have been prescribed to treat…
Read MoreNo Diagnosis? It May Not Matter
Years ago I watched a movie called Serendipity. It starred Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack. It was a “romcom” – and adorable – and it occurs to me that it sets the stage for today’s post. The story was about two young people who met in Bloomingdales while shopping, and through a series of events,…
Read More5 Little Words Save Money on Healthcare
‘Tis the season of making health insurance choices, and the nexus of money and healthcare is on our minds. We’re focused on making sure we find a policy that covers us, but doesn’t over-cover us so we pay too much. It’s about those things that can be planned (the drugs we take, the regular medical…
Read MoreHere – Let Us Help You Pay Us Way Too Much!
Just when you think you’ve heard it all…. Now hospitals are “helping” their patients with finances, too. If you don’t give that much thought, then it seems like a great idea. “We recognize you owe us more money than you can afford, Mr. Johnson. So we’re going to help you figure out how to pay…
Read More“Do Not Quote Me”
A few years ago I was at a picnic with a friend who is an orthopedist. The question was raised about whether advice given by doctors is always in the best interests of the patient. “Do not quote me,” was how he began his reply. At least that alerted me that he would give an…
Read MoreMy Sibling Has Disabilities, My Parents Have Died – Now What?
This is such a difficult scenario, yet it happens every day. A child, perhaps mentally or physically disabled from birth, or one who might have suffered an accident earlier in life, grows into adulthood, having been cared for by very loving parents who did everything they could possibly do to care for their child. As…
Read MoreThe Dangers of Having Great Health Insurance
On occasion, in a conversation with new acquaintance, they’ll ask me what I do for a living. I tell them I established and run the most comprehensive directory of independent, private health and patient advocates and care managers online, supported by a marvelous professional organization whose members populate the directory. “Independent and private?” they ask…
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