Fully Integrated HealthCare Plan Launches

September 15, 2015, 4:01 am

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Big Bang Health Aims to Remake the Self-Funded Health Insurance Industry From the Ground Up

Bentonville, AR (PRWEB) September 15, 2015

A new integrated health plan for self-funded employers is launching with the brand promise to deliver “more bang for the buck”. Big Bang Health is a fully-integrated healthcare plan for self-funded, ACOs and Taft-Hartley organizations. Big Bang Health offers a total health benefit solution featuring; comprehensive health benefits, claims administration, Stop Loss insurance, population health management, pricing transparency, Reference Based Pricing and predictive analytics.

“We believe that Big Bang Health brings an offering to self-funded employers that might be just what the doctor ordered," said Founder, Chairman and CEO, Chris Fey. “Big Bang Health has the platform that can improve collaboration among key stakeholders, by providing the missing link that is not in existence in our healthcare system today. This will ultimately lead to better care and lower healthcare costs – a long overdue and much needed improvement for our current health system.”

The biggest problems employers and employees face with various health plans today include; member engagement, coordinating care for a member between providers and the health plan's care management staff, communication, price transparency and customer service, not to mention escalating costs.

"I have been involved in health care as a provider for many years, and I have seen first hand the shortcomings of our current healthcare system. There is a significant disconnect between health plans, providers, and patients, which leads to confusion, lack of timely and appropriate care, and much dissatisfaction for patients and providers alike,” said Despina Walsworth, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer.

Big Bang Health's state of the art communication platform makes it easy for members and Big Bang Health to stay engaged and allows for real time coordination of everyone involved with a member's care. It also makes it easy for members, providers and the health plan to stay connected. Reported by PRWeb 8 hours ago.

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"That is real gold. The alternative is paper gold...other people's promises."

September 15, 2015, 4:23 am

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One of the best interviews we have seen about gold in recent weeks took place last week. It was a Bloomberg interview which involved Peter Hambro being interviewed by Francine Lacqua and Manus Cranny on Bloomberg Television’s “The Pulse.”

Some of the great quotations from this refreshing interview included:

 

· “I believe it [gold] is [still the safe haven]… [This gold coin] 2000 years ago buys the same amount of bread today as it did when Jesus Christ was born. That is a real safe haven asset…
· "That is real gold. The alternative is paper gold...other people's promises. That is nobody's promise. This is real. You can feel the weight of it. It’s lovely… "

· "It's virtually impossible to get physical gold in London to ship to China and India."

· "Are you sure it's as good to have Comex futures as it is to have the real thing?"

· "The price of gold doesn't vary, it's the price of the promises that vary."

· "There is no physical about. Instead, there are endless promises."

· "I really worry that that paper market is something that could be stamped upon and people say 'sorry, we're going to have a financial closeout' and it's all over. If you want to be in the gold business, you want to be in the physical business."

· “Gold is what I call wealth insurance. You have health insurance, fire insurance – this is wealth insurance…

· “The promises are the things that vary. Are you sure it’s as good to have Comex futures, as it is to have the real thing? In the Shanghai market, which is the only big physical market, recently introduced by the Chinese – year on year, they delivered 55 million ounces from August to August. That’s 65 billion dollars worth of physical gold. That is about half of the world’s mine supply. When you add to that the gold that’s being bought by the People’s Bank of China… Chinese demand… What the Chinese have done for their people by encouraging them to buy gold, then devaluing their currency, is fantastic…”

Hambro was a bullion dealer with Mocatta & Goldsmid and from comes from a wealthy line of Anglo-Danish merchant bankers. Today he is Chairman and Co-Founder of Petropavlovsk, the second-biggest gold producer in Russia. Hambro knows more about gold than most in the industry and has that all important historical perspective.

The interview is well worth a watch and can be seen here

*DAILY PRICES
*Today’s Gold Prices: USD 1105.50, EUR 977.11 and GBP 716.49 per ounce.
Friday’s Gold Prices: USD 1108.00, EUR 977.98 and GBP 716.97 per ounce.
(LBMA AM)

Gold had a marginal gain of 80 cents while silver fell 19 cents, or 1.3%, to $14.44 an ounce on the COMEX yesterday. Gold was marginally lower in gold trading in Singapore and fell a further $2 in European trading.

Gold in USD - 10 Years

Silver bullion is underperforming and is down 0.6%, platinum's down 0.2%, and palladium's down 0.3% after ending yesterday down over 1%.

All the focus is on the Federal Reserve ‘will they or won’t they’ increase interest rates by a small 25 basis points. The Fed announcement is scheduled for Thursday after a two-day meeting at which it will decide whether or not to make its first interest rate increase since 2006. The interest rate increase in 2006 (see chart above) was followed by higher gold prices as were the interest rate rises of the 1970s.

*IMPORTANT NEWS*

Gold holds near 1-month low ahead of Fed meeting – Reuters
Gold Holds Above One-Month Low as Investors Wait for Fed’s Move – Bloomberg
Gold Bulls Can’t Shake Fed Woes as $2.6 Billion Wiped From ETPs – Bloomberg
Gold scores gain to start week ahead of Fed rate decision – MarketWatch
Platinum Falls to 1-Month Low as Silver Drops on China Concerns – Bloomberg

 

*IMPORTANT COMMENTARY*

“It’s Virtually Impossible to Get Physical Gold in London” – Bloomberg TV
Want a Gold IRA? Here Are 3 Ways to Get It – The Motley Fool
Financial Meltdown and the Confiscation of Bank Savings: The UK-EU Bank Depositor “Bail-In” Scheme – GlobalResearch
Goldman Sachs – Perpetrator Of The Fed’s Jihad Against Savers – David Stockman’s Contra Corner
The Coming Silver Shortage – 24 Hour Gold

Download Essential Guide To Storing Gold Offshore

  Reported by Zero Hedge 7 hours ago.

What freelancers should know about liability and their assets

September 15, 2015, 5:07 am

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The Internet, mobile and on-demand economies are transforming commerce and the way many work. The concept of a steady job and paycheck is morphing into a more dynamic situation of contract, freelance and independent gigs.

In 2014, approximately 2.7 million people in the U.S. earned money from on-demand platforms like Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, Handy and TaskRabbit.

This on-demand economy has major implications for workers, who now bear full responsibility for things once handled by an employer: income tax withholding, health insurance, vacation/sick leave and retirement. In addition, the independent status of workers raises the question of liability — a topic that is currently playing out on central stage with ride-sharing drivers. Read more...

More about Small Business, Freelance Work, Personal Liability, Business, and Contributor Reported by Mashable 7 hours ago.

Marketplace Health Insurance Funded By Tax Credits In Most States: How About Yours?

September 15, 2015, 6:07 am

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On June 30, 2015, nearly 10 million consumers had enrolled in health insurance through the marketplaces. Most of those consumers received financial assistance in the way of a tax credit. How does your state stack up? Reported by Forbes.com 6 hours ago.

NM Health Connections cuts its preferred provider plans

September 15, 2015, 6:32 am

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Around 8,000 New Mexicans who use the state health exchange to buy health insurance will be restricted to health maintenance organization plans and unable to purchase preferred provider plans, according to a report in the Albuquerque Journal. New Mexico Health Connections announced Monday that it will offer only health maintenance organization plans, or HMOs, which restrict participants to a more limited provider network. It will not offer preferred provider organization plans, or PPOs, which give… Reported by bizjournals 5 hours ago.

American Health Resources Offers SMBs the Cost-effective Alternative to Group Health Insurance

September 15, 2015, 6:54 am

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SAINT CHARLES, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Health Resources introduces a way for SMBs to get rid of group health insurance and offer employees individual policies, saving 30% and being ACA compliant: the AHR Personal Benefits Plan. Reported by Business Wire 5 hours ago.

New University of Pittsburgh-UPMC Center Fosters Team-Based Medicine

September 15, 2015, 7:05 am

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The Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education will develop new collaborative care models.

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) September 15, 2015

The University of Pittsburgh’s Health Policy Institute and its primary clinical partner, UPMC, have created the Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (CIPE), which will foster the development of innovative new models of team-based, collaborative care education and practice.

The new center will be led by Ben Reynolds, P.A.-C., director of the Office of Advanced Practice Providers at UPMC, and Susan Meyer, Ph.D., associate dean for education and professor at Pitt’s School of Pharmacy. CIPE will conduct research that evaluates the cost, quality and patient outcomes of new interprofessional care models. Findings from these studies will inform the curricula and training of Pitt’s six Schools of the Health Sciences to ensure graduates are prepared for collaborative practice.    

Ultimately, the goal of the CIPE research team is to fill the evidence gap around interprofessional care and build a feedback loop to improve the education and training of health professionals. Interprofessional care occurs when multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds provide comprehensive health services by working with patients, their families, caregivers and communities to deliver the highest quality of care across settings.

“The U.S. health system will benefit tremendously from a collaborative workforce that puts the patient at the center of how we deliver care,” said Mr. Reynolds.

Pitt has been a leader in interprofessional practice since 2007, when the Pitt Working Group on Interprofessional Education was established to promote the advancement of interprofessional education. Since then, the University of Pittsburgh has continued to advance its work in interprofessional practice and education by:· Becoming designated as a National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education’s Nexus Innovations Incubator Site.
· Developing and implementing a Macy Foundation-funded classroom and clinical program focused on “Interprofessional Modeling and Caring for the Elderly.”
· Establishing an annual Pitt Interprofessional Forum.
· Modifying curricula across the health sciences to prepare students for the increasingly collaborative nature of health care delivery.

Pitt also served as the first U.S. host for All Together Better Health VII, the largest global conference on interprofessional practice and education.

“With our clinical partner UPMC, we have a unique laboratory to develop, implement and evaluate new team-based care models and to incorporate best practices into our educational offering,” said Dr. Meyer.

Additional information about CIPE, current research projects, and the research team can be found by visiting http://www.healthpolicyinstitute.pitt.edu/interprofessional-practice. CIPE also invites proposals for collaborative research from diverse stakeholders interested in investigating and promoting the adoption of sustainable and effective interprofessional models of care delivery.

CIPE is housed within the Pitt Health Policy Institute, which has been committed to producing quality, evidence-based policy research and programming for government, business and the foundation community since 1988.

# # #

About the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences include the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Graduate School of Public Health. The schools serve as the academic partner to the UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center). Together, their combined mission is to train tomorrow’s health care specialists and biomedical scientists, engage in groundbreaking research that will advance understanding of the causes and treatments of disease and participate in the delivery of outstanding patient care. Since 1998, Pitt and its affiliated university faculty have ranked among the top 10 educational institutions in grant support from the National Institutes of Health. For additional information about the Schools of the Health Sciences, please visit http://www.health.pitt.edu.

About UPMC
A world-renowned health care provider and insurer, Pittsburgh-based UPMC is inventing new models of accountable, cost-effective, patient-centered care. It provides more than $888 million a year in benefits to its communities, including more care to the region’s most vulnerable citizens than any other health care institution. The largest nongovernmental employer in Pennsylvania, UPMC integrates more than 60,000 employees, more than 20 hospitals, more than 500 doctors’ offices and outpatient sites, a more than 2.7-million-member health insurance division, and international and commercial operations. Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC ranks No. 13 in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report annual Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals. For more information, go to UPMC.com. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.

Google Bets on Insurance Startup Oscar Health

September 15, 2015, 9:10 am

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Insurance startup Oscar Health Insurance has a powerful new ally in its costly battle to win customers from entrenched insurance giants like UnitedHealth and Anthem. Reported by Wall Street Journal 3 hours ago.

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Google invests $32.5 million in health insurance startup Oscar - @WSJ

September 15, 2015, 8:45 am

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Reported by Breaking News 3 hours ago.

Horizon BCBSNJ Launches Education Effort on the OMNIA Health Alliance

September 15, 2015, 9:27 am

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has launched an educational campaign to increase understanding among consumers, employers, and brokers about how the OMNIA Health Alliance will benefit all New Jersey residents.

Newark, NJ (PRWEB) September 15, 2015

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has launched an educational campaign to increase understanding among consumers, employers, and brokers about how the OMNIA Health Alliance will benefit all New Jersey residents by accelerating the move from traditional, fee-for-service health care to fee-for-value health care.

Most health care policy experts and health care economists agree that traditional, fee-for-service health care increases costs without improving the quality of care. New Jersey is the fourth most expensive state for health care, and rising costs are becoming unsustainable for consumers underscoring the need for change.

As part of the launch of the OMNIA Health Alliance dedicated to improving quality care, the patient experience, and lowering health care costs, Horizon BCBSNJ is undertaking a major education effort. The education campaign includes a website, HorizonBlue.com/OMNIA, an advertising campaign, and seminars for brokers.

“Horizon and these health systems are really doing something big, and I was very impressed by the bold approach and the level of commitment they are making to help consumers and employers have access to lower cost health insurance options as well as high quality care,” said Desmond Slattery, Executive Vice President, SlatteryGA, a Division of Arthur J. Gallagher in Belmar.

Horizon BCBSNJ will also unveil new health plans next month. Members purchasing the new health plans will have access to all of Horizon BCBSNJ’s current hospitals and physicians, the largest networks in the state, at essentially the same level of benefits they have today. The new health plans, however, will offer lower premiums and the ability for members to save significant out-of-pocket costs by using select Tier 1 hospitals and doctors.

“I was really impressed by Horizon’s commitment to changing the status quo and working with health systems to improve consumers’ overall experience with the health care system and lower costs, which will really help many of my small business clients,” said Tracy Martin, President of the Martin Financial Group in Princeton.

Horizon BCBSNJ will continue to offer all of its current broad network health plans, which are expected to remain the company’s most popular plans in 2016.

“The OMNIA Health Alliance and our new suite of products is a response to consumer and employer demands for innovative, lower cost health plan options that move us toward paying for the value of care provided and an improved patient experience,” said Christopher M. Lepre, Senior Vice President of Market Business Units. “Our members and employers want options, and we are providing them innovative new choices to consider.”

The following health systems (representing 22 hospitals), their aligned physicians, and a multispecialty physician group have joined Horizon BCBSNJ to form the OMNIA Health Alliance:· Atlantic Health System
· Barnabas Health
· Hackensack University Health Network
· Hunterdon Healthcare
· Inspira Health Network
· Robert Wood Johnson Health System
· Summit Medical Group

In addition to the OMNIA Health Alliance organizations listed above, the following health systems will be in Tier 1 when the new products are launched:

· AtlantiCare
· Cape Regional Medical Center
· Cooper University Health System
· Englewood Hospital
· Meridian Health
· Shore Medical Canter
· St. Joseph’s
· Princeton HealthCare System

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state's oldest and largest health insurer is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Learn more at HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving more than 3.8 million members. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

New App Defrays Cost of Rising Co-Pays as Health Insurance Open Enrollment Season Begins

September 15, 2015, 9:35 am

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the enrollment period for health insurance approaches, consumers can significantly lower their out-of-pocket costs with OneRx, the most robust prescription drug savings app on the market. Reported by Business Wire 2 hours ago.

New Caring Transitions Franchise Launches in Long Island

September 15, 2015, 10:04 am

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Caring Transitions, America’s largest resource for managing senior relocations as well as downsizing and estate liquidations, now serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Long Island, NY (PRWEB) September 15, 2015

Diana Zagariello is looking forward to being a trusted local resource for seniors and their families through her new business, Caring Transitions of Long Island.

Caring Transitions is America’s largest resource for managing senior relocations as well as downsizing and estate liquidations. In addition to organizing, packing, decluttering, moving and resettling, Caring Transitions can handle estate sales, liquidations, and preparing homes for market. Caring Transitions of Long Island, owned by Diana and her husband Michael, serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

“We both come from large families and we know what it takes to downsize and clear out an estate. We can empathize with the situation our potential clients are facing and we know the difference it can make to bring us in as project managers,” Diana said. “People feel vulnerable when they are downsizing and going through a loved one’s home. They can trust that we’ll be there as an honest resource they can turn to.”

“I’m a true believer in doing what is right and, as we build our company, I am going to make sure we become a business I’d trust to work with my parents. We’re not just selling a widget, we’re in people’s homes and building relationships. We don’t take that lightly,” she added.

Diana, who will be running the business, spent many years working for a leading health insurance company and later assisted small businesses with their health insurance as an independent agent.

“We have always wanted to own a business. I worked in insurance, but after we started our family and times changed, I found that insurance just wasn’t for me anymore. When we came across Caring Transitions, we knew it would be a great fit. I’m a very organized person and we love the idea of helping people during what can be a really difficult time. It all just fell into place,” Diana said. “We are a local business owned by local residents, but we have the backing and expertise of a national, well-respected company.”

Whether your situation is planned or unexpected, Caring Transitions’ services are perfect for seniors moving in with family or into a safer living situation, busy families, and people clearing out the home of a loved one who has passed. All of Caring Transitions’ services are customizable, so clients only pay for the services they need – whether that means managing the entire move and estate-clearing or just getting someone resettled into their new place.

“We lost our first daughter when she was less than a year old, so we know what it’s like to lose a loved one and the importance of having resources and loved ones who can care for you. We know that grief can be crippling, which makes the necessary tasks, like clearing an estate, all the more challenging. We are here to take that weight off your shoulders,” Diana said. “We are blessed and excited to make Caring Transitions of Long Island the best senior relocation and estate liquidation company in the area.”

Diana is a Certified Relocation and Transition Specialists, a designation bestowed by an independent organization that evaluates providers of senior relocation services. Caring Transitions of Long Island is bonded and insured and all employees are background-checked.

When Diana and Michael aren’t working, they can be found spending time in Merrick with their two young children and their goldendoodle, Maggie.

For additional information about Caring Transitions and to learn how the company can help you and your family, call (516)586-6567, email DZagariello@CaringTransitions.net or visit http://www.CaringTransitionsLI.com.

About Caring Transitions
Caring Transitions, founded in 2006, is the first national franchising concept specializing in senior relocation and transition services. With more than 150 locations throughout the United States all owned and operated by Certified Relocation and Transition Specialists, Caring Transitions provides clients with supportive moves, auctions, rightsizing and transitions. This includes expert advice plus a well-executed transition plan beginning with the initial sorting of personal belongings through packing, shipping and selling of items to the final clearing and cleaning of the property. For more information, visit http://www.caringtransitions.com or visit us on Facebook. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Small Changes By Employers Can Raise Workers' Health Costs

September 15, 2015, 10:14 am

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As the enrollment window opens for employer-provided health insurance, workers may see changes for wellness programs, dependents' coverage and specialty drugs that could be costly. Reported by NPR 2 hours ago.

Google Capital makes a $32.5M bet on smart health insurance company Oscar

September 15, 2015, 10:55 am

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Google Capital has made a $32.5 million investment in the online health insurer and doctor finder Oscar, bringing the the startup’s funding total up to $352.5 million at a valuation of $1.75 billion. The investment comes not too long after Oscar took a monster $145 million funding round in April, at which time the company’s valuation […] Reported by VentureBeat 57 minutes ago.

Immigrant arrested at Houston health clinic faces deportation

September 15, 2015, 11:26 am

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Blanca Borrego has been living in the U.S. illegally for a dozen years, so she didn't think she was risking arrest when she went to her gynecologist's office earlier this month. Her husband works and has private health insurance for the family. Reported by L.A. Times 26 minutes ago.

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Google Backs Startup Oscar Health Insurance

September 16, 2015, 6:38 am

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Google Capital invests $32.5 million in Oscar Health, which is fighting an uphill battle to win customers from entrenched insurance giants. Reported by Wall Street Journal 5 hours ago.

Fiat Chrysler, UAW reach tentative contract deal

September 15, 2015, 10:01 pm

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DETROIT (AP) — A tentative contract agreement reached Tuesday between the United Auto Workers and Fiat Chrysler addresses pay and health care issues, but neither side would give specifics about the pact. At a hastily called news conference after the deal was announced early Tuesday evening, Williams said the agreement meets the union's goals but still keeps Fiat Chrysler competitive with other automakers. Fiat Chrysler, or FCA, was picked as the lead company in the talks this year, making it the focus of bargaining and a potential strike target if talks hit a snag. The current wage gap between entry-level workers and veteran employees benefits FCA the most, since 45 percent of its hourly workers make entry-level wages. Fiat Chrysler had no cap on the number of entry-level workers it could hire, but that was to be negotiated in the contract talks. [...] FCA is the only one of the Detroit Three whose U.S. labor costs are lower than foreign competitors like Toyota; Ford and GM think that's an unfair advantage and want to be on par with FCA. Currently a union-run trust pays most health insurance costs for about 600,000 retirees and their spouses, and the companies fund health care for about 551,000 hourly and salaried workers and their families. Reported by SeattlePI.com 14 hours ago.

PYA Announces ICD-10 Rapid Response and Recovery Team™

September 16, 2015, 12:07 am

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In response to the ICD-9 transition to ICD-10 on October 1, 2015, PYA has launched an ICD-10 Rapid Response and Recovery Team™ to help healthcare organizations quickly address potential revenue cycle disruption.

Knoxville, TN (PRWEB) September 16, 2015

Healthcare organizations anticipated that a transition from ICD-9 to the updated ICD-10 coding standard October 1, 2015, would require massive preparation—dedicated staff education, detailed technology advances that would ensure correct code selection and translation, and dual coding and testing—all in an effort to circumvent billing and coding disruptions. Yet even the most meticulous planning does not always preclude unforeseen obstacles from surfacing. And, for that very reason, effective preparedness must include a contingency plan—what to do when things don’t go as projected.

PYA has launched an ICD-10 Rapid Response and Recovery Team™ to quickly help healthcare organizations address revenue cycle disruption, establish ICD-10 best practices going forward, and eliminate reliance on trial-and-error initiatives that can pose greater risks to organizations. Ranked by Modern Healthcare as the 9th largest privately owned healthcare consulting firm in the U.S., PYA offers a variable cost alternative—incurred only if, and when, needed—and is poised to help organizations by deploying objective, experienced, highly trained personnel who focus solely on timely, efficient resolutions to lessen the impact of depleting working capital and cash flow as a result of ICD-10 implementation.

“Even healthcare facilities with the best laid plans are subject to experience disruptions with the conversion to ICD-10. Even a minor revenue cycle disruption can have a significant working capital and cash flow impact on an organization,” said PYA Principal, Denise Hall. “Establishing an effective rapid response, for times when things do not go precisely as planned, can be as critical as the initial preparation.”

PYA’s ICD-10 Rapid Response and Recovery Team™ is singularly focused on evaluating and resolving ICD-10-related issues organizations encounter. With clinical expertise in coding, documentation, and revenue cycle management, and an integrated team that includes physicians, nurses, executives, accountants, attorneys, data scientists, and policy analysts, PYA stands ready for rescue.

About PYA
For over three decades, Pershing Yoakley & Associates (PYA), a national professional services firm providing management consulting and accounting has helped its clients navigate and derive value amid complex challenges related to regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, governance, business valuations and fair market value assessments, multi-unit business and clinical integrations, best practices, tax and assurance, business analysis, and operations optimization.

Founded in 1983, PYA’s steadfast commitment to an unwavering client-centric culture has served the firm’s clients well. PYA is now ranked by Modern Healthcare as the 9th largest privately owned healthcare consulting firm in the US. PYA is also ranked 103rd by INSIDE Public Accounting’s “Top 200” Largest Accounting Firms. PYA affiliate companies offer clients world-class data analytics, professional real estate development and advisory resources, self-insured employer health insurance claims audits for Fortune 500 companies, wealth management and retirement plan administration, and business transitions consulting.

PYA is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, please visit http://www.pyapc.com/ Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.

ML Medical Billing Offers Guidelines to Help Healthcare Providers Understand the Updates to the ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding System

September 16, 2015, 12:07 am

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With full implementation scheduled for October 1, 2015, ML Medical Billing has issued a summary of key points addressing the new medical coding requirements going into effect, in order to make the transition more efficient and successful for medical practitioners across the board

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) September 16, 2015

As of October 1, 2015, all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-covered entities will be required to be in full compliance with ICD-10-CM/PCS. The professional medical billing firm ML Medical Billing has been consulting with clients and publishing informational material in the months leading up to the October deadline, to help practices prepare for the changes, and to understand the responsibilities under the new system, as well as to dispel potential misinformation that could lead to confusion and stalled or denied payments and claims.

“As with any policy changes or procedural overhauls, the upcoming transition to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM/PCS) is causing some confusion among medical practices and healthcare providers unsure of what the coding changes mean, and how they can impact business,” said Adam Millstein, Vice President of ML Medical Billing, a full service medical billing and practice management services provider. “We are working with our partners to help make the transition as smooth and stress free as possible.”

ICD-10 will update the medical billing codes currently used under ICD-9-CM, and allow for greater classification and room for case notes and input from physicians on patient diagnoses. In order to help patients understand how the new regulations will affect their practices, and to simplify the key aspects of the new coding system, ML Medical Billing has summarized the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services information manual to highlight key points leading up to the quickly approaching October 1st deadline.

1. October 1, 2015 is a hard deadline. Extensions will not be provided and all covered entities must be prepared for the implementation date.

2. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work with State Medicaid Programs to help providers meet the October 1st implementation deadline.

3. ICD-10 will contain a greater number of codes than its predecessor, however, rather than     
creating more complexity, this will allow for more clarity and detail in the patient charting and billing process.
4. ICD-10 was devised with clinicians in mind, making it more user friendly and relevant for medical staff.
5. Non-specific codes will still be available for documentation lacking greater specificity
6. ML Medical Billing will continue to create super bills containing the most common medical billing codes used in each practice.
7. ICD-10-PCS will only be used for facility reporting of hospital inpatient procedures and
will not affect the use of CPT.
8. ICD-10-CM codes will not impact reporting for CPT and HCPCS codes and modifiers.

“We are confident that we can help all of our clients transition successfully in time to meet the implementation deadline of October 1st,” added Mr. Millstein.

ML Medical Billing is a family-owned, local company operating for 30 years and servicing more than 150 physicians nationally between branches in Illinois, Florida and California. The company’s services include Reports, Coding, Billing, Claims Follow-Up, Posting, Statements, Regulatory Requirements, Software training/ consulting, provider coding education, fee schedule modifications, industry awareness, ICD-10. PQRI/PQRS, Monthly Analysis Reports, Appeals, Start-Up Practice Guidance. To learn more about ML Medical Billing and their services, please call 877-789-3593 or visit http://www.mlbilling.com. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.

Cruising without proper insurance is like heading up the creek without a paddle

September 16, 2015, 12:07 am

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Bespoke Risk Solutions launches ‘proper’ cruise insurance

Southend, Essex (PRWEB UK) 16 September 2015

Bespoke Risk Solutions Ltd (‘BRS’) announced today the launch of its new facility to arrange comprehensive travel insurance policies designed for cruises and holidays for people with pre-existing medical conditions. The specialist policies cover world cruises and holidays up to 183 days and can be pre-arranged for cruises and holidays taking place in 2015-2017.

The cancellation cover is up to the full invoice value of the cruise (which can include: transfers, hotels, flights and pre-paid shore excursions). Cruise insurance from other providers has a lower cancellation limit (in some cases as low as £2,000).

Cruises are one of the most popular holidays for the ‘baby boomer’ generation. This year, the UK cruise market passed the one million-passenger mark for the first time according to figures released by cruise body CLIA UK & Ireland*. Statistics show the number of British and overseas passengers joining their cruise at a UK port grew 10% to 1,062,000 in 2013, whilst the Number of passengers on day visits to one of the UK’s 51 cruise ports jumped by 20% to 866,000.

Joining forces with a leading UK tour operator and travel insurer, Bespoke Risk Solutions’ policies also cover travellers in their 80s and 90s, with pre-existing medical conditions, up to a limit of £5,000. Peter Collins (pictured) Director of BRS stated, “World cruise tickets could be in excess of £25,000 per person, so comprehensive specialist cruise insurance is a must-have. We would recommend to any potential cruise passengers that they consider the following”:· Have a policy that provides enough cover if traveller falls ill or has any accident.
· Have a policy that covers airlift to shore for hospital treatment.
· Have a policy that gives compensation if traveller is confined to the cabin.
· The policy must cover the entire trip (even before embarkation).
· The policy must cover missed departures.
· The policy must cover excursions on land.
· Insurers should be advised any pre-existing medical condition.
· Always read the small print in the policy

Peter added, “BRS are experts in specialist travel insurance policies for cruises. These are words of warning to anyone booking a cruise. We are aware that some travel agents advise clients that it is not necessary to purchase insurance now for 2016/17 cruises. However, unless cover is arranged within 60 days of booking the cruise, most insurers will not provide cancellation cover for the higher amounts. Also, some cruise companies insist that any person travelling on one of their ships must have full cover (and that includes cover for any pre-existing medical conditions). If passengers arrive without the correct cover, their holiday of a lifetime could be spoilt. Worst case scenarios is that the passenger might not be allowed to embark the ship without proof of the correct insurance. Some cruise companies request that passengers produce a policy proving that they have full cover before climbing aboard.”

The UK Foreign Office advises**: When travelling overseas it is important to take out travel insurance. An emergency abroad can be extremely expensive. For example:· A stomach bug/infection treated in a Californian hospital with return flights cost £100,000
· A fall resulting in a broken hip, treatment in a Spanish hospital with return flights cost £15,000

Remember: the British Embassy or High Commission will not pay for this. Credit card accident cover, home insurance or private health cover is not always sufficient. If travelling within the European Economic Areas you will need an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as well as travel insurance. We have heard stories where hospitals have refused to treat travellers that have neither holiday insurance nor sufficient funds to cover the cost of their treatment. The Daily Mail recently highlighted*** that 20% of UK travellers did not arrange travel insurance. Travellers incorrectly believed that medical costs would be picked up by the UK government when overseas. 17% believed at the European health card (EHIC) would cover the cost of repatriation to the UK – it definitely does not. Credit cards offer a level of cover but only travel insurance offers full protection to cover the wide range of issues that could happen on a foreign holiday or cruise. Comprehensive travel insurance is there to protect travellers in the event that something goes wrong. It is designed to cover medical costs if travellers need to visit a doctor or receive treatment. It can cover holiday horrors from lost luggage to stolen bags or even stomach upsets. Policies offer cancellation cover for travellers in the event that they cannot travel due to peril covered by the policy. Policies also cover a stay in the ship’s hospital until transfer to land, which could cost £6000 per day.
Bespoke Risk Solutions can arrange a comprehensive policy that will include cover for pre-existing medical conditions. Travellers can call a dedicated insurance helpline for advice: 0330 333 4797 or visit http://www.bespokerisksolutions.com/

· Source http://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/britain-remains-europes-top-cruise-market/

** Source https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance
*** Source (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2045099/Uninsured-travellers-think-UK-Government-pay-health-bills.html

ABOUT Bespoke Risk Solutions
Bespoke Risk Solutions Limited is authorised by the Financial Services Authority (Firm Reference No. 540579) to conduct Non Investment Insurance Contracts as an Appointed Representative of Kinetic Insurance Brokers Limited (Firm Reference No. 309540). The principal trading address of Kinetic Insurance Brokers Limited is 3rd Floor, PO Box HQ420, St Helen's, 1 Undershaft, London, EC3P 3DQ. You can check this by visiting the FSA website at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/firmSearchForm.do Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.