In-Home Care

In-home health care is the best option for people who have a higher level of fitness, and want to remain as independent as possible throughout their later years. In this situation, home health care nurses may come and visit you daily, or every couple of days, to take care of your everyday medical needs. Also, a housekeeper may be utilized, as well as a personal health care attendant, who would be responsible for more of the day-to-day living help – such as a companion, driver, cook or the like. In-home health care is quite easy to locate; just contact a nurses’ association or look in the Yellow Pages.

Continuing Care

An intermediary between nursing homes and independent living, continuing care, or retirement communities, offer a wide variety of health benefits and services to their inhabitants. These communities are usually all-inclusive, where dwellers receive lodging, meals, social events, varying levels of health care, and sometimes other perks as well.

Entrance fees for these establishments can be quite high (ranging from $10,000 to over 300,000); added to their monthly fees (ranging from $800-4000), and this option can prove to be expensive health care. However, services are guaranteed for the remainder of your life if you choose this option, and if your health falters, you can always be moved to the nursing home portion of their health care facility.

Because of the all-inclusive nature of this kind of health care, you’ll want to read the fine print carefully in your contract. What are all of the recurring and one-time fees? What exactly is covered with those fees? What health care options are, and are not offered? Do you need to purchase extra health insurance to cover your specific care costs? Also don’t forget to check up with the Better Business Bureau about the status of the facility you are interested in; if you plan on living there the rest of your life, you may want to double check it’s reputation, too.

Nursing Homes

In a very simple sense, nursing homes will take care of your health care needs when you are no longer able to. This may be for a short period of time while you are recovering, or for a longer period of time as you age. Nursing homes are the whole meal deal of health care for the elderly or otherwise incapacitated. If this is an option that you think you may require, there are many things to discuss and consider when looking at your options. Does the home provide the type of care that you will require? Research the history of the nursing home; are there any black spots on their record? Talk to people who have lived there, have used their services, or who are still living there now, if at all possible. Get their viewpoint.

For more more information about health care please visit http://www.1health-center.com/articles/How-To-Jump-Rope-For-Health-and-Fitness.php

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In addition to traditional organizing, health care union organizers are using more radical corporate campaigns that target hospital donors, shareholders, community groups, and even patients. The unions push these target groups to put pressure on hospital owners to allow unions to organize their employees. Many critics have argued that some of these agreements with employers have greatly limited workers’ power and emphasized the union’s cooperation with management.

The following article provides an overview of the major unions involved in the health care industry, as well as strategies to ensure your organization is prepared and remains successful.

Service Employees International Union
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) began in 1921 primarily as a janitor’s union and branched out to include government, security, and health care workers. By 2000, it was the largest, fastest-growing union in the United States, with much of that growth stemming from a series of strategic mergers with smaller unions. In June 2005, the SEIU and six other unions left the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) to form the Change to Win coalition. Citing the need for a renewed effort to organize workers, Change to Win purports to be focused on achieving fair wages, health care benefits, and secure retirement for all employees. The coalition also encourages workers to unionize on an industry-wide basis, consolidating smaller unions within larger unions.

SEIU Healthcare
In 2007, the SEIU announced plans to launch a new health care union to serve approximately one million members, such as nurses and service workers at hospitals and nursing homes. SEIU Healthcare combined financial and personnel resources from the 38 local SEIU Healthcare unions. Of the SEIU’s 1.9 million members, 900,000 work in health care. In September 2008, the SEIU reported it would begin several high-profile projects to bring business leaders, health care providers, community organizations, and elected officials together to work on the nation’s health care system. SEIU leaders were part of a May meeting held by President Obama to discuss a health care overhaul. More recently, SEIU members attended town hall meetings to speak out in support of the proposed health care reform. In August, the SEIU was part of a group-largely funded by the pharmaceutical industry’s lobby-that launched $12 million in television advertisements to support Obama’s health care proposal. This group, the Americans for Stable Quality Care, could spend tens of millions more this fall.

SEIU and NUHW
The SEIU attempted to consolidate three local units representing home health care workers into one unit last December, taking authority away from the local units. The SEIU accused the local unit officials of financial misconduct, and in response, the leaders of the local units criticized the SEIU’s practice of centralizing power at its Washington headquarters and making corrupt deals with employers. In January, a 150,000-member SEIU local unit in Oakland was put under trusteeship by the SEIU, and the local officials of that unit were dismissed. The ousted officials formed a new union, the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW).

The NUHW announced the first workers had cast votes in favor of representation by the new union in March. A majority of 350 union-represented workers at four nursing homes in northern California managed by North American Health Care wanted to end their labor relationship with SEIU and join the NUHW. The day after this announcement, the SEIU filed unfair labor practice charges against the four nursing homes, charging that administrators of the facilities had illegally withdrawn union recognition and colluded with a competing labor union. In that same month, a National Labor Relations Board regional director ruled against the NUHW, saying that the contract between the SEIU and the hospital chain prevented the effort by a new labor union to represent 14,000 Catholic Healthcare West workers. Despite the ruling, the founding convention to formally launch the NUHW took place in April 2009. According to the NUHW, approximately 91,000 California health care workers have signed petitions filed at the labor board, stating they would like be members of the new union.

The NUHW also claims that, in response to these decertification drives, the SEIU has resorted to harassment and intimidation and tactics similar to union prevention. The SEIU argues that the new group has unfairly restrained and coerced workers, as well as complained to the National Labor Relations Board. A decisive battle between the two unions will come in 2010, when the SEIU-UHW contract with Kaiser Permanente expires and the opportunity for decertification elections reopens. Kaiser, the largest health care provider in California, has 50,000 workers that could potentially become members of NUHW.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
The California Nurses Association (CNA) began as a state chapter of the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1903. The ANA has a federated structure: Nurses do not typically join the organization directly, but instead join their respective state organization, which has membership in the ANA. After several years of believing the ANA was not providing them adequate financial support to increase collective bargaining activity in California, the CNA broke ties with the ANA in 1995 and formed its own union, becoming the first state organization to secede from the ANA. Since its break from the ANA, the CNA has acquired a reputation as one of the most aggressive labor unions in the country. In 2004, the CNA began establishing itself in other states under the name National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC). The CNA voted to seek affiliation in the AFL-CIO in 2007. CNA membership has doubled over the last seven years and represents 80,000 members from all 50 states.

UAN-NNOC
In February, CNA/NNOC, United American Nurses (UAN), and the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) announced the formation of another new union: the United American Nurses-National Nurses Organizing Committee (UAN-NNOC). With a combined membership of more than 150,000 affiliates in 19 states, it is the largest nursing union in the history of the United States.

National Federation of Nurses
The National Federation of Nurses (NFN) was officially launched in April at an event in Portland, Oregon. The NFN represents more than 70,000 nurses in six state nurses’ associations, including New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Based on a federated model (much like the ANA), the NFN recognizes the independence of each member organization. Membership is open to state nurses’ associations and other labor organizations that represent RNs. The NFN is tied to the ANA, which outlines standards for nursing practices, but has historically opposed nurse unionism and includes managers in its leadership. Since nurse union leaders expect many of the 15 unions with nurse memberships to flood hospitals with authorization cards if the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) passes, they want to establish their own national union to ensure nurses are organized by nurses.

SEIU and CNA: From Violent Disputes to Cooperative Agreements
The SEIU signed a neutrality agreement in March 2008 with an Ohio Catholic hospital to organize 8,000 workers. The day before voting was scheduled to begin, members of the CNA distributed leaflets to discourage workers from joining the SEIU. After the workers received the leaflets attacking SEIU and its arrangement with management for an election, SEIU called off the vote. Then at an April 2008 conference in Detroit, SEIU staff and members protested at a banquet of CNA members, resulting in violence. The two unions have also launched raids and counter-raids across the country, and both have sent mailings to thousands of nurses (including nurses in other unions, as well as nurses whose unions are currently trying to organize) attacking each other.

After more than a year of fighting, the SEIU and CNA signed a cooperation agreement in March. They will work together to bring union representation to all non-union RNs and other health care employees, as well as improve patient care standards. The unions have also agreed to refrain from raiding each other’s members and will work together toward common goals, including lobbying for congressional passage of the EFCA. SEIU and CNA will coordinate campaigns at the largest health care systems and launch an intensive national organizing campaign. Catholic hospital chains will likely be among the first targets.

In June, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the nation’s largest unions (including the SEIU and the AFL-CIO) signed an agreement describing how union organizing will be conducted at Catholic health care facilities. (The document is similar to the one Catholic Healthcare Partners and Community Mercy Health Partners created last year with the SEIU before the CNA protest canceled the vote.) This agreement is significant because Catholic health care providers represent the largest employers and providers of services in many communities. The agreement provides seven guidelines for management at Catholic health care facilities and unions, making it easier organize health care workers at these facilities.

What This Means for Your Organization
Many experts agree that expanded unionization, along with the passage of the EFCA, will negatively impact our health care system. Both health care providers and industry analysts fear that unionization could mean higher costs and more restrictive work rules, adding to the soaring cost of delivering health care. Hospital and health care facilities need to be aware of these issues and how they can educate their supervisors and workers about the threat of unionization.

Communication with your employees is a critical first step. Many issues are involved in the possible unionization of a health care facility (economic factors, working conditions, quality of patient care, employee satisfaction, etc.). To prepare for possible union activity, identify issues that are relevant to your facility and address those needs publicly. Train leadership and include information about your union-free policy in the employee hiring and orientation procedures. Assess your wage and benefit structure, and be sure to promote what you offer.

You can use brochures, meetings, video, webinars, e-mail, Web sites, or eLearning tools to reach your employees. The most effective efforts include an employee feedback system that encourages two-way communication.

Walter Orechwa is CEO of Projections, Inc. Established in 1979, Projections is the country’s leading provider of employee communication resources (video, web, elearning), specializing in critical issues such as skills and management training, health care issues, layoffs and closings, pension and retiree issues, new employee orientations, corporate compliance and ethics, labor relations and other employment-related issues.

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Poor access to health care is a problem for many special populations, and the reasons spans across the global community. According to Anderson, Rice and Kominski (2001) access to care is often assessed by existence of regular medical care and coverage of services, as well as by an absence of delays and barriers to care. Having a regular source of medical care is recognize as important for the general population, as well as for those with various chronic diseases (Anderson, Rice & Kominski, 2001 p.236). The poor, elderly, women, children and HIV/AIDS group are the most vulnerable groups in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicate the next two decades will see dramatic changes in the health needs of the world’s populations with non-communicable diseases, mental illness, infectious diseases and chronic illness as leading causes of disability. Increases in the older population by up to 300% are expected in many developing countries; in addition, HIV/AIDS will continue to be a major cause of disability and death. These changes require a very different approach to health sector policy and health care services among the special populations of the world (WHO, 2006)

Special population needs

According to WHO, there were 390 million people aged over 65 years recorded in 1998, and this figure is estimated to double in 2025. With advances in medicine and prolonged life expectancy, the proportion of older people will continue to rise worldwide (WHO, 2006). Unfortunately fragile health and mobility, neglect and abuse are factors that increase the vulnerability of elder women and men. Al-Nasir and Al-Haddad (1999) suggest as the overall number of elderly people increase there is a corresponding rise in the number of older persons with disabilities. Such disabilities may be social, physical, mental or psychological. Data from the U.S. have estimated that 9.5 million, non-institutionalized individuals, experience difficulty in performing basic activities, such as walking, self-care and home management activities (Al-Nasir & AL-Haddad, 1999).

The elderly population and there needs has an enormous implications for health care system across the global. The financial infrastructure of nations must be prepared to accommodate the coming influx of elderly patient. According to Fried and Gaydos (2002) the aging population, has put enormous pressure on the Japanese health care system. The Japan’s has a unique fund for the elderly know as the Roken system. The Roken system is a pooling fund which attempts to distribute the burden of paying for geriatric care for all Japanese. Established in 1983, the pooling fund covers those who are more than 70 years old and bedridden people over 65 years old. The fund pools contributions from all insurance schemes. Seventy percent of medical costs for the elderly are covered by contributions from health insurance societies for company employees and national health insurance schemes and the government shoulders the remaining 30 percent (Fried and Gaydos, 2002 p. 251). One draw back to the Roken system is when the number of workers paying into the pooling fund is lower than the proportion of elderly people seeking assistance the system may not be sustainable.

In the U.S. the rapid growth of the elderly will put new stains on the financial resources of Medicare. Many older people who on fix incomes or limited financial resources may need a system as the Japanese Roken system, where health care is covered by contributions from health insurance companies or a universal social insurance scheme. The Medicare program has broad public support because it offers health security to many older and disabled people. Longest, Rakich and Darr (2000) suggest the need for a long-term approach to program financing, improved benefits and protections for people with low incomes remains an important issue to address. Medicare is facing the challenge of financing and managing health care for the growing number of Americans who will rely on this program for health insurance protection (Longest, Rakich and Darr, 2000). In the future the increasing growth of the elderly may pressure the government to set policies that resemble a cost sharing between private insurance and Medicare.

HIV/AIDS Group

According to Kates, Jennifer, Dorian, Richard, Crowely, Jeffers, Summers and Todd (2002) more than 60 million people have been infected with HIV worldwide, 20 million have died. HIV is now the leading cause of death in Africa and the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Most of the impact has been felt in the developing world. Children and women are increasingly at risk. In addition, it is estimated that more than 40 million children will have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS by 2010 and these children will also be at increased risk for HIV (Kates, et. al, 2002). Access to treatment and available drugs are some of the unique health care needs facing the world HIV/AIDS population.

Fried and Gaydos (2002) indicate Cuba incidence of HIV/AIDS cases remains very low, although it is increasing as Cuba opens more to tourism and external contracts. Cuba once had a policy of quarantining for all HIV-positive cases. Pressures from international bodies such as the United Nations and many large nongovernmental agencies, Cuba now has a voluntary quarantine after medically recommended stay in a residency for eighth weeks. All newly identified people with HIV are also expected to spend at least eight weeks in a sanatorium (Fried & Gaydos, 2002). Cuba’s health system is funded primarily by the national budget through indirect taxation and duties. Cubans are expected to pay for all drugs for outpatient treatment. Access to health care treatment and services for HIV/AIDS patient therefore is very limited.

In the U.S. even a voluntary quarantine of newly HIV diagnosed patient would be a social injustice. As HIV progress in the U.S. individuals experience disability and unemployment due to the illness. Many HIV/AIDS patients rely on public entitlements and private disability programs for income maintenance and health care benefits. Medicaid and Medicare are the primary payers for individuals who are disabled. Anderson, Rice and Kominski (2001) suggest the lack of insurance and underinsure can represent formidable financial barriers to treatment for HIV/AIDS. Persons with HIV/AIDS are more likely than the general population to be uninsured or to have Medicaid insurance. Unlike Cuba in the U.S. AIDS medication is available to HIV/AIDS patient however not all medications are covered by insurance (Anderson, Rice & Kominski, 2001).

The financial burden of HIV infection increasing in communities is a financial burden on health care providers and public payers. The reliance on an infinite source of public funds for people with HIV/AIDS is in dout. Cuba is a communist country which developed a process of governmental quarantine for the HIV/AIDS population. The U.S. method of moving the HIV/AIDS patients into managed Medicaid health plans is a better process in which patient care is managed for the purpose of reducing the cost of treatment.

While gender affects the health of both men and women, WHO places special emphasis on the health consequences of discrimination against women that exist in nearly every culture. Powerful barriers including poverty, unequal power relationships between men and women, and lack of education prevent millions of women around the world from having access to health care and from attaining and maintaining the best possible health (WHO, 2006).

Anderson, Rice and Kominski (2001) indicate in Israel the waves of immigration in the early twentieth century sparked the establishment of networks of community welfare and health organizations. The sick fund model of health provision has persisted in Israel to this day. Although the 1994 National Health Insurance (NHI) Law made all sick funds regulated subcontractors of the state, thereby providing health care services to the country’s residents under government regulation (Anderson, Rice & Kominski, 2001). The system has been developed through voluntary sick funds, not for profit institutions, and the state. Israeli health system stem from organized social arrangements in which the government is responsible for the health of its citizens. The state has an active role in the development and financing of health care services that extend into the private sectors.

In the U.S the entrepreneurial system is more concern with the cost and the profit involve in providing health care for individuals. The Israel NHI is a system of collaborative efforts on subcontractors of the government. The process of subcontracting allows the government to oversea the implementation of health care activities through out the country. In the U.S. entrepreneurial system subcontracting by the government would give too much control over the health care system. The Israel system can not be applied readily to the U.S. health care system because there are no true national mandates that can be applied to an entrepreneurial system. Anderson, Rice and Kominski (2001) indicate in the U.S. individuals or employers may purchase private health insurance. Approximately 63 percent of Americans had private health insurance between 1977 and 1999. Of those with private insurance, 58 percent obtained health insurance through their employer, and 5 percent purchased insurance individually. Private health insurance companies may operate as for profit or not for profit organizations (Anderson, Rice & Kominski, 2001). Private health insurance organization with in the U.S. would fight against a system such as Israel NIH. The NIH is a allows Israel to regulate the health care system by subcontracting this type of system would cut the profit margin of private health insurance companies in the U.S.

Conclusion

Rising health insurance costs and high numbers of uninsured citizens has generated a public interest in national laws that would provide access to care for special populations. When evaluating Non-US health care concepts there is no one systems that guarantee universal access to health care for all. The national health care policy in the U.S. has evolved incrementally over the decade. Access to care has generally depended on insurance coverage that is implemented privately or publicly. With the increase needs of special populations the U.S. will have to establish policies that allow the collaboration between private as well as public entities to secure access for those in need.

References

Al-Nasir, F. & Al-Haddad, M. K. (1999). Levels of disability among the elderly in
Institutionalized and home-based care in Bahrain: Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (5) p. 247-254 Retrieved March 3, 2006 from [http://www.emro.who.int/publications/emhi/0502/05.htm]

Anderson, R. M., Rice, T. H., & Kominski, G. F. (Eds.). (2001). Changing the U.S. health care
system: Key issues in health services Policy and management (2nd ed.). San Francisco:
Jossey-Bass.

Fried, B. J., & Gaydos, L. M. (Eds.). (2002). World health systems: challenges and perspectives.
Chicago: Health Administration Press.

Kates, Jennifer, Sorian, Richard, Crowely, Jeffrey S., Summers & Todd, A. (2002). Critical
policy challenges in the third decade of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. American Journal of Public Health (92) Issue 7 Retrieved March 3, 2006 from [http://web14.epnet.com/citation.asp?tb=]

Longest, B. B., Rakich, J. S. and Darr, K. (2000) Managing health services organizations and
systems (4th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Health Professions Press, Inc.

World Health Organization (2006). Important target groups Retrieved March 2, 2006 from
http://www.who.int/oral_health/action/groups/en/print.html

Bio- Dr. Gilton C. Grange

Dr. Gilton Grange’s formal education includes a Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix, A Master of Public Administration from Long Island University and A Bachelor of Arts degree fro State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Grange has 12 years extensive experience in the Health Care arena and currently has concentrated his efforts in grant writing and grant development for organizations that seek to grow their businesses. Dr. Grange’s company BridgeBuilder Consortium provides services in proposal writing, management and costing for firms and organizations bidding on government contracts and grants. Dr. Grange is currently working on his first comprehensive book that focuses on multi-disciplinary teams in an organizational construct.

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Believe it or not, America boasts some of the world’s best doctors, the most advanced health care system, and the most technically superior resources in the world, bar none. Those who travel globally and have gotten sick know that their first choice for treatment would be in the U.S. Though health care in America is, more expensive than any other country, many of the worlds wealthiest come to the U.S for surgical procedures and complex care, because it holds a worldwide reputation for the gold standard in health care.

To examine the complex health care issue, a small research study was conducted from randomly selected doctors in a best doctors database. We ask 50 top doctors, located in different states and who practice different specialty fields, ” Is a universal health care plan good for America?” Forty-eight of these doctors essentially responded that it was a “bad idea” that would have negative impacts on the quality of our nation’s health care.

Social Engineering Medicine

One of the greatest mis-conceptions some people have relied on with regard to the health care debate is that, given a universal health care system, every person in the U.S. would receive the highest quality health care – the kind our nation is renowned for and that we currently receive. However, unlike some public amenities, health care is not a collective public service like police and fire protection services, therefore the Government cannot provide the same quality of health care to everyone, because not all physicians are equally good orthopedic surgeons, internists, neurosurgeons, etc, in the same way that not all individuals in need of health care are equally good patients.

As an analogy – stay with me – when you design a software program, there are many elements that are coded on the back-end, and used to manipulate certain aspects of the software program, that your average “John Doe” who uses the software (the end user) does not understand or utilize, nor do they care about these elements. Certain aspects of the program are coded, so that when one uses that portion of the program, other elements of the program are manipulated and automatically follow the present or next command.

Likewise, once a universal care plan is implemented in America and its massive infrastructure is shaped, private insurance companies will slowly disappear, and as a result, eventually patients will automatically be forced to utilize the government’s universal health care plan. As part of such a system, patients will be known as numbers rather than patients, because such a massive government program would provide compensation incentive based on care provided, patients would become “numbers,” rather than “patients.” In addition, for cost savings reasons, every bit of health information, including your own, will be analyzed, and stored by the Government. What are the consequences? If you’re a senior citizen and need a knee replacement at the age of 70, the government may determine that you’re to old and it’s not worth the investment cost, therefore instead of surgery, you may be given medication for the rest of your life at a substantial cost savings to the government, and at a high quality of life price to you.

Solutions:

Fixing the current U.S. health care system might require that we;

1. Encourage prevention and early diagnosis of chronic conditions and management.
2. Completely reform existing government are programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.
3. Forgive medical school debt for those willing to practice primary care in under-served areas.
4. Improve access to care, provide small businesses and the self-employed with tax credits, not penalties for providing health care.
5. Encourage innovation in medical records management to reduce costs.
6. Require tort reform in medical malpractice judgments to lower the cost of providing care.
7. Keep what isn’t broken-research shows 80% of Americans are happy with their current insurance, therefore, why completely dismantle it?
8. Reimburse physicians for their services.
9. Innovate a system in which Medicare fraud is dramatically decreased.

Devil In the Details

Socialized medicine means:

1. Loss of private practice options, reduced pay for physicians, overwhelming numbers of patients, and increasing burn-out may reduce the number of doctors pursuing the profession.

2. Patient confidentiality will need to be compromised, since centralized health information will be maintained by the government and it’s databases.

3. Healthy people who take care of themselves will pay for the burden of those with unhealthy lifestyles, such as those who smoke, are obese, etc.

4. Patients lose the incentive to stay healthy or aren’t likely to take efforts to curb their prescription drug costs because health care is free and the system can easily be abused.

5. The U.S. Government will need to call the shots about important health decisions dictating what procedures are best for you, rather than those decisions being made by your doctor(s), which will result in poor individualized patient care.

6. Tax rates will rise substantially-universal health care is not free since citizens are required to pay for it in the form of taxes.

7. Your freedom of choice will be restricted as to which doctor is best for you and your family.

8. Like all public programs, government bureaucracy, even in the form of health care, does not promote healthy competition that reduces costs based on demand. What’s more, accountability is limited to the budgetary resources available to police such a system.

9. Medicare is subsidized by private insurers to the tune of billions of dollars, therefore if you take them out of the equation, add a trillion dollars or more to the current trillion dollar-plus cost estimates.

10. Currently, the government loses an estimated $ 30 billion a year due to Medicare fraud. Therefore, what makes anyone think that this same government will be able to run & operate a universal health care system that is resistant to fraud and save money while doing so?.

Hugo Gallegos is a health information technology expert & founder of http://www.mdnationwide.org, a research & information company specializing in identifying America’s best medical doctors and providing comprehensive medical doctor background reports.

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Home health care is allowing the patient and their family to maintain dignity and independence. According to the National Association for Home Care, there are more than 7 million individuals in the United States in need of home health care nurse services because of acute illness, long term health problems, permanent disability or terminal illness.

Home Health Care Basics

Nurses practice in a number of venues: Hospital settings, nursing homes, assisted living centers, and home health care. Home health care nursing is a growing phenomenon as more patients and their families desire to receive care in their homes. The history of home health care stems from Public Health Nursing where public health nurses made home visits to promote health education and provide treatment as part of community outreach programs. Today academic programs train nurses in home care and agencies place home health care nurses with ailing individuals and their families depending on the nurse’s experience and qualifications. In many cases there is a shared relationship between the agency and the academic institution.

Many changes have taken place in the area of home health care. These include Medicare and Medicaid, and Long Term Care insurance reimbursement and documentation. It is important for the nurse and nursing agency to be aware of the many factors involved for these rules and regulations resulting from these organizations. Population and demographic changes are taking place as well. Baby boomers approaching retirement and will present new challenges for the home health care industry. Technology and medical care in hospitals has lead to shorter inpatient stay and more at-home rehabilitation. Increases in medical outpatient procedures are also taking place with follow-up home care. This has resulted in the decrease of mortality rate from these technologies and medical care has lead to increases in morbidity and chronic illness that makes the need for home health care nursing a greater priority.

Home Health Care Nurse Job Description

Through an array of skills and experience, home health care nurses specialize in a wide range of treatments; emotional support, education of patients who are recovering from illnesses and injury for young children and adults, to women who have experienced recent childbirth, to the elderly who need palliative care for chronic illness.

A practicing nurse must have the skills to provide care in a unique setting such as someone’s home. The nurse is working with the patient and the family and must understand the communication skills for such dynamics. Rapport is evident in all nursing positions, but working in a patient’s own living space needs a different level of skill and understanding. There is autonomous decision making as the nurse is no longer working as a team with other nurses in a structured environment, but is now as a member of the “family” team. The host family has cultural values that are important and are different for every patient and must be treated with extreme sensitivity. Other skills include critical thinking, coordination, assessment, communication, and documentation.

Home health care nurses also specialize in the care of children with disabilities that requires additional skills such as patience and understanding of the needs of the family. Children are living with disabilities today that would have resulted in mortality just twenty years ago. Genetic disorders, congenital physical impairments, and injury are just a few. Many families are familiar with managing the needs of the child, but still need expert care that only a home health care nurse can provide. It is important that a home health care nurse is aware of the expertise of the family about the child’s condition for proper care of the child. There are many complexities involved, but most important, a positive attitude and positive reinforcement is of utmost importance for the development of the child.

Medication coordination between the home health care nurse, doctor, and pharmacist, ensures proper management of the exact science behind giving the patient the correct dose, time of administration, and combinations. Home health care nurses should be familiar with pharmacology and taught in training about different medications used by patients in the clinical setting.

Many advanced practicing nurses are familiar with medication regiments. They have completed graduate level programs. Home health care agencies believe that a nurse should have at least one year of clinical experience before entering home health care. Advanced practicing nurses can expedite that training by helping new nurses understand the home health care market and teaching.

Employment and Salary

According to the United States Department of Labor, there were 2.4 million nurses in America, the largest healthcare occupation, yet many academic and hospital organizations believe there is a gross shortage in nursing staff. The shortage of nurses was 6% in 2000 and is expected to be 10% in 2010. The average salary for hospital nursing is $53,450 with 3 out of 5 nursing jobs are in the hospital. For home health care, the salary is $49,000. For nursing care facilities, they were the lowest at $48,200.

Training and continuing education

Most home health care nurses gain their education through accredited nursing schools throughout the country with an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), or a master’s degree in nursing (MSN). According to the United States Department of Labor, in 2004 there were 674 BSN nursing programs, 846 ADN programs. Also, in 2004, there were 417 master’s degree programs, 93 doctoral programs, and 46 joint BSN-doctoral programs. The associate degree program takes 2 to 3 years to complete, while bachelors degrees take 4 years to complete. Nurses can also earn specialized professional certificates online in Geriatric Care or Life Care Planning.

In addition, for those nurses who choose to pursue advancement into administrative positions or research, consulting, and teaching, a bachelor’s degree is often essential. A bachelor’s degree is also important for becoming a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners (U.S. Department of Labor, 2004).

All home health care nurses have supervised clinical experience during their training, but as stated earlier advanced practicing nurses hold master’s degrees and unlike bachelor and associate degrees, they have a minimum of two years of post clinical experience. Course work includes anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, psychology, and behavioral sciences and liberal arts. Many of these programs have training in nursing homes, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics. (U.S. Dep. of Labor, 2004).

Whether a nurse is training in a hospital, nursing facility, or home care, continuing education is necessary. Health care is changing rapidly and staying abreast with the latest developments enhances patient care and health procedures. Universities, continuing education programs, and internet sites, all offer continuing education. One such organization that provides continuing education is the American Nurses Association (ANA) or through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Conclusion

There are many rewards to becoming a home health care nurse. Some rewards include the relationship with a patient and their family, autonomy, independence, and engaging in critical thinking. The 21st Century brings with it many opportunities and challenges. We must meet these challenges head on – there is an aging baby boomer population, a growing morbidity factor due to increased medical technology and patient care, and the growing shortage in nursing care.

Becoming a home health care nurse today is exciting and an opportunity to make a difference one life at a time. With clinical experience and proper education, a home health care nurse will lead the future of medical care.

By Michael V. Gruber, MPH is a contributing author to My Nursing Degree Online, providing articles and resources for nurses looking for continuing education online. With a Masters of Public Health and two years of medical school, Michael provides a unique perspective on the current nursing shortage crisis on the Nursing Career Blog as well as comprehensive articles about nurse education and advancement.

Find more information about becoming a Home Health Care Nurse including certification and job openings at My Nursing Degree Online.

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Why does health care fraud appear to get the ‘lions-share’ of attention? Could it be that it is the perfect vehicle to drive agendas for divergent groups where taxpayers, health care consumers and health care providers are dupes in a health care fraud shell-game operated with ’sleight-of-hand’ precision?

Take a closer look and one finds this is no game-of-chance. Taxpayers, consumers and providers always lose because the problem with health care fraud is not just the fraud, but it is that our government and insurers use the fraud problem to further agendas while at the same time fail to be accountable and take responsibility for a fraud problem they facilitate and allow to flourish.

1. Astronomical Cost Estimates

What better way to report on fraud then to tout fraud cost estimates, e.g.

- “Fraud perpetrated against both public and private health plans costs between $72 and $220 billion annually, increasing the cost of medical care and health insurance and undermining public trust in our health care system… It is no longer a secret that fraud represents one of the fastest growing and most costly forms of crime in America today… We pay these costs as taxpayers and through higher health insurance premiums… We must be proactive in combating health care fraud and abuse… We must also ensure that law enforcement has the tools that it needs to deter, detect, and punish health care fraud.” [Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE), 10/28/09 press release]

- The General Accounting Office (GAO) estimates that fraud in healthcare ranges from $60 billion to $600 billion per year – or anywhere between 3% and 10% of the $2 trillion health care budget. [Health Care Finance News reports, 10/2/09] The GAO is the investigative arm of Congress.

- The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) reports over $54 billion is stolen every year in scams designed to stick us and our insurance companies with fraudulent and illegal medical charges. [NHCAA, web-site] NHCAA was created and is funded by health insurance companies.

Unfortunately, the reliability of the purported estimates is dubious at best. Insurers, state and federal agencies, and others may gather fraud data related to their own missions, where the kind, quality and volume of data compiled varies widely. David Hyman, professor of Law, University of Maryland, tells us that the widely-disseminated estimates of the incidence of health care fraud and abuse (assumed to be 10% of total spending) lacks any empirical foundation at all, the little we do know about health care fraud and abuse is dwarfed by what we don’t know and what we know that is not so. [The Cato Journal, 3/22/02]

2. Health Care Standards

The laws & rules governing health care – vary from state to state and from payor to payor – are extensive and very confusing for providers and others to understand as they are written in legalese and not plain speak.

Providers use specific codes to report conditions treated (ICD-9) and services rendered (CPT-4 and HCPCS). These codes are used when seeking compensation from payors for services rendered to patients. Although created to universally apply to facilitate accurate reporting to reflect providers’ services, many insurers instruct providers to report codes based on what the insurer’s computer editing programs recognize – not on what the provider rendered. Further, practice building consultants instruct providers on what codes to report to get paid – in some cases codes that do not accurately reflect the provider’s service.

Consumers know what services they receive from their doctor or other provider but may not have a clue as to what those billing codes or service descriptors mean on explanation of benefits received from insurers. This lack of understanding may result in consumers moving on without gaining clarification of what the codes mean, or may result in some believing they were improperly billed. The multitude of insurance plans available today, with varying levels of coverage, ad a wild card to the equation when services are denied for non-coverage – especially if it is Medicare that denotes non-covered services as not medically necessary.

3. Proactively addressing the health care fraud problem

The government and insurers do very little to proactively address the problem with tangible activities that will result in detecting inappropriate claims before they are paid. Indeed, payors of health care claims proclaim to operate a payment system based on trust that providers bill accurately for services rendered, as they can not review every claim before payment is made because the reimbursement system would shut down.

They claim to use sophisticated computer programs to look for errors and patterns in claims, have increased pre- and post-payment audits of selected providers to detect fraud, and have created consortiums and task forces consisting of law enforcers and insurance investigators to study the problem and share fraud information. However, this activity, for the most part, is dealing with activity after the claim is paid and has little bearing on the proactive detection of fraud.

4. Exorcise health care fraud with the creation of new laws

The government’s reports on the fraud problem are published in earnest in conjunction with efforts to reform our health care system, and our experience shows us that it ultimately results in the government introducing and enacting new laws – presuming new laws will result in more fraud detected, investigated and prosecuted – without establishing how new laws will accomplish this more effectively than existing laws that were not used to their full potential.

With such efforts in 1996, we got the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It was enacted by Congress to address insurance portability and accountability for patient privacy and health care fraud and abuse. HIPAA purportedly was to equip federal law enforcers and prosecutors with the tools to attack fraud, and resulted in the creation of a number of new health care fraud statutes, including: Health Care Fraud, Theft or Embezzlement in Health Care, Obstructing Criminal Investigation of Health Care, and False Statements Relating to Health Care Fraud Matters.

In 2009, the Health Care Fraud Enforcement Act appeared on the scene. This act has recently been introduced by Congress with promises that it will build on fraud prevention efforts and strengthen the governments’ capacity to investigate and prosecute waste, fraud and abuse in both government and private health insurance by sentencing increases; redefining health care fraud offense; improving whistleblower claims; creating common-sense mental state requirement for health care fraud offenses; and increasing funding in federal antifraud spending.

Undoubtedly, law enforcers and prosecutors MUST have the tools to effectively do their jobs. However, these actions alone, without inclusion of some tangible and significant before-the-claim-is-paid actions, will have little impact on reducing the occurrence of the problem.

What’s one person’s fraud (insurer alleging medically unnecessary services) is another person’s savior (provider administering tests to defend against potential lawsuits from legal sharks). Is tort reform a possibility from those pushing for health care reform? Unfortunately, it is not! Support for legislation placing new and onerous requirements on providers in the name of fighting fraud, however, does not appear to be a problem.

If Congress really wants to use its legislative powers to make a difference on the fraud problem they must think outside-the-box of what has already been done in some form or fashion. Focus on some front-end activity that deals with addressing the fraud before it happens. The following are illustrative of steps that could be taken in an effort to stem-the-tide on fraud and abuse:

- DEMAND all payors and providers, suppliers and others only use approved coding systems, where the codes are clearly defined for ALL to know and understand what the specific code means. Prohibit anyone from deviating from the defined meaning when reporting services rendered (providers, suppliers) and adjudicating claims for payment (payors and others). Make violations a strict liability issue.

- REQUIRE that all submitted claims to public and private insurers be signed or annotated in some fashion by the patient (or appropriate representative) affirming they received the reported and billed services. If such affirmation is not present claim isn’t paid. If the claim is later determined to be problematic investigators have the ability to talk with both the provider and the patient…

- REQUIRE that all claims-handlers (especially if they have authority to pay claims), consultants retained by insurers to assist on adjudicating claims, and fraud investigators be certified by a national accrediting company under the purview of the government to exhibit that they have the requisite understanding for recognizing health care fraud, and the knowledge to detect and investigate the fraud in health care claims. If such accreditation is not obtained, then neither the employee nor the consultant would be permitted to touch a health care claim or investigate suspected health care fraud.

- PROHIBIT public and private payors from asserting fraud on claims previously paid where it is established that the payor knew or should have known the claim was improper and should not have been paid. And, in those cases where fraud is established in paid claims any monies collected from providers and suppliers for overpayments be deposited into a national account to fund various fraud and abuse education programs for consumers, insurers, law enforcers, prosecutors, legislators and others; fund front-line investigators for state health care regulatory boards to investigate fraud in their respective jurisdictions; as well as funding other health care related activity.

- PROHIBIT insurers from raising premiums of policyholders based on estimates of the occurrence of fraud. Require insurers to establish a factual basis for purported losses attributed to fraud coupled with showing tangible proof of their efforts to detect and investigate fraud, as well as not paying fraudulent claims.

5. Insurers are victims of health care fraud

Insurers, as a regular course of business, offer reports on fraud to present themselves as victims of fraud by deviant providers and suppliers.

It is disingenuous for insurers to proclaim victim-status when they have the ability to review claims before they are paid, but choose not to because it would impact the flow of the reimbursement system that is under-staffed. Further, for years, insurers have operated within a culture where fraudulent claims were just a part of the cost of doing business. Then, because they were victims of the putative fraud, they pass these losses on to policyholders in the form of higher premiums (despite the duty and ability to review claims before they are paid). Do your premiums continue to rise?

Insurers make a ton of money, and under the cloak of fraud-fighting, are now keeping more of it by alleging fraud in claims to avoid paying legitimate claims, as well as going after monies paid on claims for services performed many years prior from providers too petrified to fight-back. Additionally, many insurers, believing a lack of responsiveness by law enforcers, file civil suits against providers and entities alleging fraud.

6. Increased investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud

Purportedly, the government (and insurers) have assigned more people to investigate fraud, are conducting more investigations, and are prosecuting more fraud offenders.

With the increase in the numbers of investigators, it is not uncommon for law enforcers assigned to work fraud cases to lack the knowledge and understanding for working these types of cases. It is also not uncommon that law enforcers from multiple agencies expend their investigative efforts and numerous man-hours by working on the same fraud case.

Law enforcers, especially at the federal level, may not actively investigate fraud cases unless they have the tacit approval of a prosecutor. Some law enforcers who do not want to work a case, no matter how good it may be, seek out a prosecutor for a declination on cases presented in the most negative light.

Health Care Regulatory Boards are often not seen as a viable member of the investigative team. Boards regularly investigate complaints of inappropriate conduct by licensees under their purview. The major consistency of these boards are licensed providers, typically in active practice, that have the pulse of what is going on in their state.

Insurers, at the insistence of state insurance regulators, created special investigative units to address suspicious claims to facilitate the payment of legitimate claims. Many insurers have recruited ex-law enforcers who have little or no experience on health care matters and/or nurses with no investigative experience to comprise these units.

Reliance is critical for establishing fraud, and often a major hindrance for law enforcers and prosecutors on moving fraud cases forward. Reliance refers to payors relying on information received from providers to be an accurate representation of what was provided in their determination to pay claims. Fraud issues arise when providers misrepresent material facts in submitted claims, e.g. services not rendered, misrepresenting the service provider, etc.

Increased fraud prosecutions and financial recoveries? In the various (federal) prosecutorial jurisdictions in the United States, there are differing loss- thresholds that must be exceeded before the (illegal) activity will be considered for prosecution, e.g. $200,000.00, $1 million. What does this tell fraudsters – steal up to a certain amount, stop and change jurisdictions?

In the end, the health care fraud shell-game is perfect for fringe care-givers and deviant providers and suppliers who jockey for unfettered-access to health care dollars from a payment system incapable or unwilling to employ necessary mechanisms to appropriately address fraud – on the front-end before the claims are paid! These deviant providers and suppliers know that every claim is not looked at before it is paid, and operate knowing that it is then impossible to detect, investigate and prosecute everyone who is committing fraud!

Lucky for us, there are countless experienced and dedicated professionals working in the trenches to combat fraud that persevere in the face of adversity, making a difference one claim/case at a time! These professionals include, but are not limited to: Providers of all disciplines; Regulatory Boards (Insurance and Health Care); Insurance Company Claims Handlers and Special Investigators; Local, State and Federal Law Enforcers; State and Federal Prosecutors; and others.

Daniel J. Osborne, M.S., is a renowed expert on health care fraud issues and recognized authority on health care compliance. He can be contacted at Provider Fraud Consultants, Inc., dba Chiropractic Compliance Consultants, Inc., 18065 238th Street, Tonganoxie, Kansas 66086, 913-369-9000, http://www.cccpfc.com

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The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC) reports that total spending on health care was $2.3 trillion last year, equivalent to $7600 per person. Health insurance premiums for a family of four sky rocketed to $12,100 during this same period and single coverage premiums averaged more than $4,400 annually.

One tactic to save on health care is to buy high deductible “catastrophic” health insurance which is significantly less expensive (as much as 50%-75% less) however this strategy must be combined with a commitment towards exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

The good news is that exercise does not have to be overly strenuous. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that walking three times per week for a minimum of 30 minutes reduces the risk of mortality from disease by 57%.

Unfortunately 2/3 of the American population is now categorized as overweight according to the CDC and less than 10% of the population is exercising on a regular basis. While Congress must focus on ridding our health care system of excessive administrative costs, fraud and mismanagement there must also be a call for personal action. Prevention through a healthier lifestyle and exercise should play an integral role in our growing health care crisis but few politicians wish to risk the backlash of telling Americans they need to get out of their chairs and start moving.

Desperate for answers, some state governments are considering instituting a “carrot and stick approach” to medical insurance programs. Alabama recently enacted a $300.00 annual increase for health care premiums to state employees that do not meet minimum health requirements and are unwilling to join their state wellness plan. Other nations are instituting more stringent guidelines as well. Japan has implemented a national program fining corporations if their employees do not meet specific weight and waistline guidelines.

Rising health care costs and insurance premiums are taking the availability of health care out of the hands of millions and placing a tremendous burden on our economy according to the NCHC, accounting for approximately 16% of our current GDP and expected to rise to 20% of GDP in eight years.

Now that health care costs are rising at 2-3 times the rate of inflation an emphasis on prevention seems more critical now more than ever before. Treadmill desks offer a solution which empowers employees to take control of their personal health and reduce their costs of medical care at the same time.

ABOUT TrekDesk – manufacturer of the first affordable full sized, adjustable treadmill desks designed to fit your existing treadmill and allow you to walk while you work, burn calories without sweating and enhance your health.

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Your health care provider has spent a number of years dedicated to learning all they can about human health from diagnosing illnesses to determining the best course of action to either cancel out the ailment or at least make you comfortable living with the illness.

It is always important to have a good relationship with your health care provider. It may also help to get to know the people who work in the office as well, as developing a great relationship with those in charge of your health care is always a good idea. Making sure they know your personal condition can help your health care provider better understand your medical situation.

If you make a decision that you want to try alternative medications, such as herbal or all natural ingredients, you should always check with your health care provider about how they could work together with your current medications and what effect, if any, that they could have on your medications stability.

Furthermore, if you end up hospitalized your health care provider may not be the doctor keeping up with your progress in the hospital, rather they may turn that aspect of your health care to specialists involved in additional care involving the issues that have placed you in the hospital.
Pay attention to your health care provider’s advice, it could save your life.

Vincent Isom is a specialist on health and life related information. For more articles like this please visit http://www.healthylifestyle-4life.com, http://www.healthylifestyle-4life.com/health-products-i-recommend/

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Just take a look at the billion dollar health food, herbal medicine, and vitamin industries and you quickly recognize what most people are relying on to stay healthy. With all the hype associated with what these products can do for your body and health, most are left unproven. People spend unbelievable amounts of money on things that may not help them at all.

My point……eliminate “energy” drinks, “vitamin” water drinks, diet sodas, and every health food product that doesn’t have scientifically documented food value for the normal person. You’ll save a mint of money. These add-on products are promoted by marketers to suck your wallet dry, and make you believe you are doing a good thing for your body and health.

The dollars people waste on energy drinks, megavitamins, nutrisystem, herbal products, weight loss products, and other marketing magnets could easily be put to better and
healthier use.

Probably the most notorious industry which fools you into spending thousands of hard earned money on each year to improve your skin, make you look beautiful, and supposedly makes you healthier looking are cosmetics. All they have to do with their product is change the package, add a nonessential ingredient, or come up with a French name and you are made to believe they are different and even better than the original cosmetic product.

It is incredible how little difference there is in the compound ingredients contained in cosmetics from all the major companies and famous names. Yet, you will swear that one cosmetic is far better than another one. You think it’s a health product, and waste your money over and over without even knowing the truth.
Wake up, folks.

There exists a more practical and realistic way to save money on health care and doctor bills right inside the health care system.

Consider the cost savings by:

• Knowing how to plan doctor visits so that all your medical issues can be handled on one visit, rather than coming back again at another appointment to finish up. Are two co-payments, or cost of two office visits a financial burden to you?

• Knowing how to avoid wasted time and costs of wasted trips to the doctor’s office. Are you losing money on gas, babysitters, time off work without pay for those false alarms?

• Knowing how to get free medications from the doctor’s cabinet. Are you missing out on all the free medications that pharmaceutical companies hand doctors to give to patients?

• Knowing how to manage your appointment scheduling to avoid wasted time having to be rescheduled at another time. Have you noticed that there are some appointment times and days when your doctor appointments never get messed up?

In each of these cases the loss of your time and money happens. Baby-sitters, automobile wear and tear plus gas, extra co-pay payments for unnecessary doctor visits, and loss of work income all contribute to the cost of your medical care. So if you can avoid these and other factors that add up to hundreds of wasted dollars spent for health care, it would be fantastic.

How to save hundreds of dollars annually on health care at your doctor’s office:

1. The time problem solution: Physicians must see many more patients each day in order to keep the office running financially. They plan to handle only one medical problem of yours at a time and earn extra money by having you return for another visit to fix the second problem.

To get your medical needs completed on one visit you should:

*Have all your problems written out on paper in the order of importance.
*Don’t waste your time in polite conversation when with the doctor-stick to your medical problems.
*Have all your clothing changes and gowns positioning done before the doctor comes in.
*Be brief and to the point in your description of your symptoms and medical problems.
*Have a list of every medication you take, including over-the-counter non-prescription drugs-include the doses, times taken, and reasons you take them.
*Have in mind what happened at your last visit and how it was treated.
*Keep a list of any new symptoms or signs appearing since the last appointment.
*Learn details about your medical problems so you understand better, and the doctor doesn’t have to spend so much time explaining things to you.

2. Solution to wasting time and saving money: The better you can communicate with the doctor’s office, the less chance there is of your missing an appointment or finding out your appointment was cancelled without ever notifying you.

Smart things to do:

*Call the office before leaving home to be sure the doctor is available.
*Arrive early for your appointment (15-20 min.) in case the previous appointment was cancelled and you can get in earlier.
*When you are late for your appointment, rather than reschedule, remain there to be fitted into the remaining schedule.

3. Office freebies save you money: Most medical offices keep a closet full of medical samples to give out to patients. However, in almost all cases the doctor and staff
are too busy to remember to give them to you.

Always ask:

*Drug samples they have can save you 30 to 40 dollars.
*Information handouts and free office subscription magazines often contain discount coupons you can use.
*If you are pleasant to the office staff you often can persuade them to do you favors without charging you anything—like a blood pressure check.

4. Appointment scheduling skills: All too often the doctor is delayed getting to the office, getting started on time, and hurrying to get out of the office to a meeting.

Appointment scheduling tips:

*Schedule your appointments mid-morning and mid-afternoon because those are the times a doctor is much more likely to be there and on time.
*Schedule in the evening if they have office hours then, less interruptions, less stress, and can spend more time with the doctor usually.
*Never schedule an appointment on the doctor’s surgery day, Monday AM, and Friday PM. Surgery cases are notorious for being delayed 2 to 3 hours and messes up any office schedule.

Over a year’s time while paying attention to these tips you will no doubt save countless hours waiting in your doctor’s reception room, or running back and forth to the office uselessly. All this costs you money for one reason or another, and it’s preventable.

I discovered in my own medical practice that when I kept my patients constantly informed about what was going on at the time, through my office staff of course, they were rarely irritated or bothered very much about rearrangements of their appointments. Physicians do have an obligation to start their appointment schedules on time, spend enough time with patients to fulfill their immediate health care needs, and create a medical business environment which appeals to patients and their health care.

The author, Curt Graham, is a medical doctor, marketer, copywriter, author, speaker who has written extensively over his 35 plus years in active medical practice. He is a published author in Modern Physician, and is credited as an expert author by web article directories and self help websites including selfgrowth.com.

If you want to learn how to get top medical care anywhere, anytime, and save time and money in the process….Go Here Now! http://www.healthcaresecretsrevealed-finally.com

Please feel free to copy, send, or distribute this article as long as the article is not changed, and the resource box is included as written.

© Copyright 2008 L & C Internet Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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These days, adverts for insurance are everywhere. There are numerous adverts on TV, radio and in magazines. There are even various ones on the Internet that you can look into further, but very few of these adverts on any medium will advertise the long term health care benefits. You have to delve a little deeper to get a good picture of them. The sheer choice will also baffle you because you will be inundated with information about products that you can neither distinguish nor effectively examine. You should note the reputable companies and make a short list, and then delve into the world of long term health care. You should actually contact the companies and ask specifically about long term health care for in depth information.

You should ideally compose a list of all of your wants and needs where long term health care is concerned before delving into conversation with any representative of insurance companies because the cover can be very basic but any good sales person can make it sound incredibly good. By having a list of wants and needs concerning your long term health care, you can compare what they have to say with that. You should always do some online research to see what elements of long term health care should, by rights, be receiving regardless of the insurance policy you take out and also what cover you should be looking for.

Do not be afraid to play companies off against one another by comparing their policy to others that offer long term health care options. You should try to get as much out of a company as you possibly can because it is your health, which is very precious after all. As long as you do your research, you can make sure that you get a great deal for your money… and your long term health care!

You can also find more info on Health Care and Affordable Health Care. Tophealthcarehelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Health Care.

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