Associated Patient Advocates, LLC

07/25/2022

988 = NATIONAL SU***DE and CRISIS HOTLINE
As of July 16, 2022 the National Su***de Prevention Hotline number is 988. This easy to remember number will replace the former 10 digit phone number. It will be active in the entire United States.
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, CALL 988!
LET YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT RESOURCE.
The intention is to provide compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress—whether that is thoughts of su***de, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
The Lifeline responds 24/7 to calls, chats or texts from anyone who needs support for suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis, and connects those in need with trained crisis counselors.
The 10-digit Lifeline number 1-800-273-TALK (8255) will continue to be operational after July 16 and will route calls to 988 indefinitely.
The 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline is a network of more than 200 state and local call centers supported by HHS through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
A caller will be answered and directed to the nearest crisis center to their location. When calling 988, callers first hear a greeting message while their call is routed to the local Lifeline network crisis center (based on the caller’s area code). A trained crisis counselor will answer the phone, listen to the caller, understand how their problem is affecting them, provide support, and share resources if needed. If the local crisis center is unable to take the call, the caller will be automatically routed to a national backup crisis center. The Lifeline provides live crisis center phone services in English and Spanish and uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages for people who call 988.
Spanish speakers can dial 2 to be connected to a Spanish speaking resource.
VA administers the Veterans Crisis Line through the Lifeline’s national network. Because of VA’s partnership with the Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line is affected by this transition to a new number. Veterans and their loved ones can now Dial 988 then Press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
For more information, go to 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline | SAMHSA

04/01/2022

APRIL 12, 2022 6:30 PM PDT VIA ZOOM

INTRODUCTION TO PATIENT ADVOCACY & THE CHILDRENS MOVEMENT OF CALIFORNIA: WORKING TOGETHER FOR PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Associated Patient Advocates, LLC is pleased to feature Children Now and The Children’s Movement of California, a network of groups who care about kids and want to see public policies to promote their well-being. Learn about Children Now’s health priorities for the year, and how The Children’s Movement of California engages groups to help prioritize children’s issues in the state.
Associated Patient Advocates, LLC sponsors monthly webinars on topics of interest to patients and families.
THERE IS NO FEE TO ATTEND AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS WELCOME.
When: April 12, 2022, 6:30pm PT
TO PARTICIPATE PLEASE REGISTER at www.associatedpatientadvocates.org/events OR REGISTER HERE https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rdeqvrj4sGtCWiEw1N2Hm6hDA0XhoRRZ3

Speaker: HARLEY SCHULTZ MD MBA, President, Associated Patient Advocates
Dr. Schultz will discuss the growing field of patient advocacy and its mission helping patients and families navigate the US health care system to get the care they need and deserve.
Speaker: Eileen Espejo, Children Now, Senior Managing Director, Health

02/22/2022

See Susan Bucker, LCSW, discuss 2022, New Year, New Opportunities. Susan provides tips on overcoming the post-holiday letdown, being open to change, staying positive, maximizing your support systems, handling seasonal depression, and taking advantage of opportunities

Susan Bucker, LCSW, on behalf of Associated Patient Advocates discusses overcoming the post-holiday let down, staying positive in the new year, looking for n...

02/08/2022

FREE Webinar Tomorrow night:
Tuesday February 8, 2022 at 6:30PM
NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITY

Presenter: SUSAN BUCKER LCSW
Sponsored by: Associated Patient Advocates
Susan Bucker, LCSW, will discuss how to stay positive in the year to come, with particular attention to maximizing your wellness and making the health care system work for you.
Susan has many years of experience in counseling patients with a wide variety of ages and needs.
TO PARTICIPATE PLEASE REGISTER: Go to

Feb 8 6:30 PM18:30 WEBINAR: 2022, NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITY Tuesday, February 8, 2022 6:30 PM 7:30 PM 18:30 19:30 Google Calendar ICS February 8, 20226:30 PM Pacific Time VIA ZOOM CLICK BELOW TO REGISTERREGISTER HEREFIND US AT: www.associatedpatientadvocates.org SUSAN BUCKER LCSWSponsored by: Assoc...

12/12/2021

Coping with Holiday Stress--Advice From a Mental Health Professional

· COPING WITH HOLIDAY STRESS · Presented by Susan Bucker LCSW · For Associated Patient Advocates · We all know the song, “There is no Place like Home for the Holidays.” However, we must first define Home.

11/16/2021

PATIENT ADVOCACY AND MENTAL HEALTH
Patient Advocate and Counselor, Susan Bucker, LCSW, discusses how to reduce your stress when getting the medical care you need and the role patient advocates can play. She uses real life examples from her extensive experience to illustrate her discussion.

11/16/2021

YES, YOU CAN FIGHT INSURANCE DENIALS
Every health insurer is required to have a process for appealing claims denials, yet very few patients do.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA=”Obama Care”) guarantees external appeal rights to enrollees in all non-grandfathered private health plans. When issuers uphold denials at the internal appeal level, consumers have the option of requesting an independent review by an outside entity, whose decision is binding
A recent study examined claims denials in the ACA plans, all of which are administered by private companies.
It can be accessed on line here:
Claims Denials and Appeals in ACA Marketplace Plans
The findings are striking:
1) In 2019, pre-covid, an average of 17% of In Network claims were denied
2) Denial rates ranged from 1% to 50% depending on the company
3) Less than 1% were denied for lack of medical necessity. Reasons given were a) excluded service 18%), lack of prior authorization 9%, and OTHER, WHATEVER THAT MEANS, 72%.
4) Consumers rarely appeal these denials. Only 0.1-0.2%, or 1-2 in a thousand, claims were appealed by the patient.
5) Yet when they were appealed, the denials were overturned in 40% of the cases.
6) Medicare Advantage plans denied claims at an 8% rate overall.
What does this mean for you as a patient?
You do not have to accept denial of needed care by your insurer.
While much of the time, your doctor’s office may submit appeals on your behalf, this takes time and energy away from caring for patients and is an expense shifted from the insurer to your doctor. Given the large volume of pre-authorizations, claims submissions, and other administrative tasks, not every denial can get priority.
You CAN appeal directly. It can be complicated and time consuming, but IT IS YOUR RIGHT, and may be important for the well being of you and your loved ones.
Patient advocates can help in this process and hopefully save you time, aggravation, possible out of pocket expense, and get better results for your health care needs.
We are here for YOU

09/29/2021

Here is the link to the Managing Managed Care recording from yesterday. https://youtu.be/nhWDhNSFQPk
We discussed 1) what is managed care 2) alphabet soup HMO PPO 3) selecting a plan and comparing them 4) knowing what is on your insurance card 5) how to play by the rules 6) where the money goes and 7) how managed care affects your health care team--and your health

Learn about the predominant form of private health insurance in the US.How to choose the best plan for you; how to understand the alphabet soup of HMO, PPO, ...

09/07/2021

Watch our Health Care Finance 101: Part 2
Medicare A, B, Cs (and D)
Learn about how to enroll in Medicare, what benefits are provided, what it costs, how to select the best plan for yourself and your loved ones, how to read insurance statements and medical bills, and as a special bonus, insurance-speak. See the link below:

Learn about Medicare from the perspective of a new enrollee. How to enroll, How to select the best option for you. Learn what Medicare covers, and how to rea...

08/21/2021

Enjoy our updated video about the US Health Care System Overview, which is useful for anyone who will visit a doctor, other health care provider, or hospital. Get a basic understanding of the different approaches countries have taken, how the US approach evolved, how the money flows, and basic terminology.
You tube link: https://youtu.be/iOhn-GxEArQ

08/06/2021

See our recent webinar on "Overview of the US Health Care System" on our website at www.associatedpatientadvocates.org/blog
and our your tube channel at https://youtu.be/FXzQl0Yejdk
and fast forward the first 90 seconds.
We discussed the history of health care around the world, how other countries do it, and how we got where we are today.

Stay tuned for part 2, Medicare A, B, C (and D)s on August 31 at 6:30 PM Pacific Time.

See the intro below, follow the link to the actual presentation

07/27/2021

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening July 27th at 6:30PM for the first of this webinar series about following the money. Go to our events page on our website at www.associatedpatientadvocates.org

Associated Patient Advocates welcomes you to attend our monthly public service webinar on health care issues.
This will be the first in a series. If you have ever been confused by your health insurance, or which insurance to get, or what you will to pay, or why you have to jump through hoops, join us.
Register at the zoom link on the flyer, or at
www.associatedpatientadvocates.org Events page.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvd-Grqz0oGNdsqDJPCPpaqve6kbg8qBxY