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First off, let’s start by addressing this issue by its correct name “The Affordable Care Act”. This act, signed into law on March 23, 2010, was upheld by the Supreme Court on June 28, 2012. According to Title I of The Affordable Care Act, part of the goal is to “put individuals, families and small business owners in control of their health care” as well as “ban insurance companies from denying insurance coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition giving consumers new power to appeal insurance company decisions that deny ordered treatments covered by the insurance.” Many do not have a complete understanding of The Affordable Care Act (including those for and against it) so here are a few highlights of who this act may be right for.
Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
Some may feel it is unfair for the American Healthcare system to deny health coverage to a person just because they have a pre-existing condition. This part of The Affordable Care Act allows people access to health coverage if they have a pre-existing condition and have been denied health insurance or uninsured for at least six months (healthcare.gov).
Youth Adult Coverage
Before the Affordable Care Act policies, insurances could remove a child from a parent’s insurance as early as the age of 19. The age could be extended only if the child was a full-time student. Now, children are allowed coverage on a parent’s policy until the age of 26. This may be beneficial to those who choose to continue their education after the traditional fours and cannot afford individual health coverage.
Women
Because of the Affordable Care Act, “insurance companies cannot deny coverage to women, or charge more, due to pre-existing conditions such as cancer or pregnancy.”
The topics listed above do not even begin to touch the surface of this expansive act; they are just to give a few examples of which this act may be right for. Whether it is admitted or not, everyone knows that there are serious flows in the American Healthcare system currently that needs addressing. Nothing that is placed into law will satisfy every American’s issues or concerns when it comes to National Healthcare. With this being said, I encourage everyone, whether you are for or against The Affordable Care Act, to educate yourself before you speak about it. Take time and visit healthcare.gov. This is the only website that will give you accurate information and timelines when all the changes will take place. You may use the information to argue the pros or the cons; either way, you will have the true facts.
(Disclaimer: PCIP, Youth Coverage and Women information was obtained from healthcare.gov)
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“If they give us trouble, dismiss them” a provider I used to work for said to me. When I questioned why, she further explained that frivolous lawsuits come from patients who are difficult to begin with. Patients who are more likely to engage in these sorts of attacks on the practice are also likely the ones who are unhappy with their life and have feelings of resentment toward doctors even before they step into your practice. This particular doctor would rather lose a patient, than risk enduring a sour relationship that could ultimately lead to a lawsuit. I would not recommend to practices that they use this sort of protocol; however, one can understand this perspective when considering safeguarding one’s practice.
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Recognizing That Fine Line Between Normal Patient Narcotics Use And Abuse Writing prescriptions for, as well as the daily use of narcotics is considered a normal part of modern day medicine. In the world today, we are constantly seeing headlines that read “Woman charged in Rx drug fraud scheme” (wthr.com), and “National pill trafficking ring has roots in (state to remain unnamed)” (sentinel.com). These are just a couple of examples, but it is not uncommon to see headlines related to these on a very frequent basis. But, at what point does normal use become abuse? Once that fine line is crossed, who is to blame? Will this affect the way patients’ conditions are treated? What role do you play as a Practice Manager to help prevent this from happening? |