Consumer Information Navigator Index

INDEX

  1. SECTION 1: Detailed Information For: A GUIDE TO MANAGE YOUR PATIENT BALANCE OR MEDICAL BAD DEBT
  2. Section 1 is designed to supplement the step by step Guide you are using to resolve your patient balance.

  3. Critical Healthcare Terms You Need to Know
  4. Knowing important healthcare terms educates and prepares the consumers to discuss medical bills with healthcare providers.

  5. Know Your Explanation of Benefits
  6. Your Explanation of Benefits you receive from your insurance company is the starting point for any billing review. It is very important you understand how to read the EOB. It is equally important that you retain all EOBs.

  7. How to Read and Understand Billing Statements
  8. Your monthly billing statement from your healthcare provider lets you know the current status of your account. It also contains posting information from your insurance company.

  9. When Calling a Medical Provider: Documentation and Provider Call List
  10. This listing of titles will help the consumer locate the person to discuss billing issues.

  11. How to Negotiate a Medical Bill
  12. Negotiating your medical bill can be daunting. This sections will help you become confident when dealing with your healthcare provider.

  13. How to Navigate Medical Bills at a Collection Agency
  14. Unfortunately. your account may be sent to a collection agency. This section will help you deal with the collection agency.

  15. Know Your Healthcare Insurance Benefits and In Network Service Providers
  16. In addition to your EOB, these two documents are critical when dealing with your medical bill. Knowing your benefits and provider network ensures your insurance company has made the correct payment.

  17. What I Need to Know about the No Surprise Act
  18. If you received services from an out of network healthcare provider. you are protected under the No Surprise Act. Remember, the Act covers services after January 1, 2022.

  19. No Surprise Act: Notices you may get & whether you should sign them
  20. Consumer Beware. Release forms may cost you more money. Make sure you understand what you are signing.

  21. Healthcare Discounts Available to the Consumer
  22. Consumers are bombarded with offers of discounts for everything they purchase. Healthcare is no different with one exception; most consumers are not aware they are available. This section will explain how to secure a discount.

  23. Section 2: HOW TO APPLY FOR HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CHARITY OR MEDICAID
  24. This healthcare financial source is sometime forgotten. Our goal is to help you navigate this part of the financial healthcare maze.

  25. What to Know About Hospital Financial Assistance (Charity) and State Medicaid Policies
  26. The following is the HOW TO guide as to applying for Charity, Financial Assistance or Medicaid.

  27. HOW TO NAVIGATE/APPLY FOR CHARITY CARE PROGRAMS FOR ASSISTANCE WIITH MEDICAL BILLS
  28. Healthcare Consumers may need financial help. An unknown resource maybe Medical Charity Programs

  29. Safety Net Hospitals; A Resource for the Healthcare Consumers
  30. Healthcare Consumers need to understand how Safety Net Hospitals are a financial source. These organizations are funded by county, state and government organizations and are available to all.

  31. SECTION 3: No Surprise Act: A User Guide to Navigate the Act
  32. The Guide will help the Consumer Navigate the No Surprise Act. The No Surprise Act protects the consumer from balance bills they receive from healthcare providers.

  33. Introduction to the No Surprise Act and the Consumer Guide; Part 1
  34. The No Surprises Act, effective January 1st, 2022, aims to protect consumers from at least one contributor to the problem: unexpected bills for out-of-network care in emergency and non-emergency settings.

  35. No Surprise Act: Impact on Healthcare Consumer; Part 2
  36. Once finalized, the rule will protect consumers from surprise medical bills for emergency services, air ambulance services provided by out-of-network providers and non-emergency services provided by out-of-network providers at in-network facilities.

  37. No Surprise Act: Impact on Healthcare Provider; Part 3
  38. Once finalized, the rule will protect consumers from surprise medical bills for emergency services, air ambulance services provided by out-of-network providers and non-emergency services provided by out-of-network providers at in-network facilities.

  39. No Surprise Act: Impact on Healthcare Payors; Part 4
  40. Your Healthcare Insurance Company plays a major role in the No Surprise Act Process. This section will explain the impact.

  41. No Surprise Act: Impact on Healthcare Consumers With and No Insurance; Part 5
  42. The consumers with or without health insurance needs to know what is covered under the act. This section will help .

  43. No Surprise Act: Impact on Healthcare Consumer Notice and Consent; Part 6
  44. Consumers need to be very aware of the all consents and notices that the act includes. CONSUMER BEWARE OF CONSENTS BEFORE YOU SIGN ANYTHING!!

  45. No Surprise Act: Independent Dispute Resolution Process; Part 7
  46. The consumer needs to be aware of the process. CONSUMERS ARE NOT INVOLVED; IT IS BETWEEN THE PAYOR AND PROVIDER.

  47. No Surprise Act: What is an Advanced EOB? ; Part 8
  48. Consumers need to understand this segment of the law. Very important consumer information from your insurance company.

  49. No Surprise Act: How is the No Surprises Act going to be enforced? ; Part 9
  50. Enforcement will be important. Healthcare consumers need to understand the process. This section will help guide the consumer.

  51. No Surprise Act: How is the No Surprises Act going to affect Physicians. ; Part 10
  52. Your doctor will be affected by the act. This will help you understand how that works.

  53. No Surprises Act: The Act Includes Telehealth; Part 11
  54. Today, Telemedicine has become a part of our healthcare routine. This section will help you understand the impact on Telemedicine.

  55. SECTION 4: Consumer Checklists for Managing Elder Patients and Yourself
  56. In addition to the User Guide, this section supplements the Guide with additional and updated information. The Consumer needs to be aware of these updates.

  57. 17 Legal Documents Needed to Care for Elderly and Non Elderly Consumers
  58. The No Surprise Act includes an Arbitration process. This section explains the process.

  59. A Guide to Create, Manage and Use Your Personal Health Record
  60. Creating, Managing and Using Your Personal Health Record is a very powerful tool to manage your healthcare. Most Healthcare Consumers do not have a clue. This guide will help you get started.

  61. Should Your Elderly Parents or You Be Living Alone? 12 Warning Signs
  62. The No Surprise Act has provisions for consumers to file complaints. This section explains the provisions and how to file a complaint.

  63. Section 5: Understanding the Medical Billing Process
  64. Medical Billing can be confusing. This section will help the consumer navigate the process.

  65. Navigating the Healthcare System My Healthcare Story and What I Learned
  66. This actually happened. Good lessons learned.

  67. States Step In as Telehealth and Clinic Patients Get Blindsided by Hospital Fees
  68. BUYER BEWARE,,,,Check out how the consumer can get over billed!!!!

  69. How Medical Billing Works
  70. Medical billing can be very confusing for the consumer to understand and navigate. This section will explain the billing process and what the healthcare consumer can expect.

  71. Understanding the Pre-Certification Process for Elective Services
  72. Some specific services covered under the consumers’ health insurance plan may require the healthcare provider to obtain an authorization to perform the service. Consumers need to be aware of these requirements to be assured of payment form their insurance company.

  73. Basic Terms You Need to Know When Navigating the Healthcare Billing Process
  74. This section will help the healthcare consumer understand, talk about and navigate through healthcare.

  75. Appealling a Medical Bill that was Denied by Your Insurance
  76. Insurance companies routinely deny services that require the healthcare provider and consumer to appeal. This section will guide the consumer through the appeal process.

  77. Medical Bills that have been sent to a Collection Agency
  78. The consumer should know their options and strategies when a bill sent to a collection agency.

  79. Observation Care and Services; A Consumer’s Guide of What You Need to Know
  80. Understanding and Managing Observation Status when admitted to a hospital can be very confusing. The HCNC Observation Status Guide will help the Consumer Navigate through the process.

  81. State By State Medical Records Copying Fees
  82. Find out what healthcare providers will charge you for your medical record

  83. What is Telehealth, Telecare and Telemedicine?
  84. Understanding and using telemedicine will be very important for healthcare consumers. This section will define, educate and guide the healthcare consumer through telemedicine.

  85. How to Plan for and What to Expect During your Hospital Stay
  86. Most healthcare consumer are paralyzed when themselves or family members are admitted to a hospital. This section will explains how the consumer can navigate the healthcare process.

  87. Emergency Room or Urgent Care? SYMPTOMS THAT WILL HELP YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
  88. Selecting the right Healthcare Provider in an Emergency situation can save you time and money.

  89. A GUIDE TO MANAGE YOUR PATIENT BALANCE OR MEDICAL BAD DEBT
  90. This is a step-by-step guide TO MANAGE YOUR PATIENT BALANCE OR MEDICAL BAD DEBT. The guide is supplemented with detail information in SECTION 1.

Sign up for our Newsletter

Get the latest news about the health care industry
straight to your inbox!