Florida Judge Roger Vinson Rules On Health Reform Home Care Path

On Monday, January 31, 2011 in U.S. District Court in Northern Florida Judge Roger Vinson ruled that health care reform measures are unconstitutional. Attorney General Bill McCullom represented Florida and 25 other States in the legal action.

Judge Roger Vinson ruled against the health care reform legislation on the grounds that the United States Congress exceeded its authority by requiring nearly all U.S. citizens to have health insurance. Judge Roger Vinson explained that the US Congress lacks the power to penalize citizens for not doing something.

Judge Roger Vinson see's it unconstitutional to award The United States Congress the power to penalize a passive individual for failing to engage in commerce. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to follow this legislation as it unfolds.

Old Age In The United States Home Care Path

What is old age in the United States? National advertising is often designed to appeal to the fifty plus population. Eligibility for the Medicare program continues to increase in age. In 2009 the United States Census Bureau estimates the total population of people age 65 and older in the United States at 35.9 million.

Data collectors agree the number of older individual's residing in the United States is climbing daily. Analysts believe the data indicates individuals are living longer. Theorists indicate elders have limited regenerative abilities, and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness.

Age related disorders like Alzheimer's as well as dementia have boosted the number of seniors needing help in the home. These seniors require consistent help with activities of daily living. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Statistician's agree that the senior population is increasing, causing the total number of seniors needing assistance in the home to increase.

What Does Medicare Call Fraud? Home Care Path

Medicare defines fraud as a health organization knowingly presenting a false claim for reimbursement. Large health care organizations will consistently alter their delivery system to meet federal requirements for maintaining the in- flow of reimursement money. Medicare has identified many opportunities in which health organizations fix billing resulting in fraud.
1. Billing for services that were never done
2. Billing for procedures that were completed just to result in higher level of reimbursement
3. Billing for equipment and supplies never ordered
4. Billing for new equipment but giving the patient used
5. Billing for expensive equipment while purchasing the cheaper for actual patient use
6. Someone other than the MD is completing the certificate of medical necessity
7. Bill for tests performed as the result of values beyond a range (no MD ordered)
8. Bill for diagnostic tests never actually performed
9. Bill with fake codes to increase reimbursement
10. Free community testing to retain MC/MA numbers
11. Billing with seperated procedural codes to increase reimbursement (unbundle)
12. Billing more than once for the same procedure
13. Bill for brand name drugs and give generic
14. Bill for employees service when employee never present
15. Inflating cost reports to increase reimbursment
16. Billing for nursing home level of care when patient housed in assisted living facility
17. Not charging assigned copayments to increase population being served

Avoid Fake Super Bowl Tickets Home Care Path

The Green Bay Packers are headed to the Super Bowl. National media have listed the super bowl ticket cost at about 5 grand per ticket. This provides an opportunity for ticket counterfeiter's to profit. Seniors finding a source for super bowl tickets with a low price should be cautious.

NATB The National Association of Ticket Brokers was formed in 1994. NATB has been vital in the National Football League's fight against phony tickets. Seniors are enouraged to google NATB. Once on the site, point and click the find an NATB member window. This allows you to enter the State and City. Wisconsin has some NATB members listed in Greenbay and Milwaukee.

Consider using a credit card to purchase the super bowl tickets, some cards have built in protection if the tickets are not received. The ticket should include valid date, time, and location of seats. NATB reminds seniors tickets are printed on heavy paper with a visible pricing code.

Take the steps to be sure you are buying the official super bowl tickets, allowing you entrance in to the big game.

HSA Wisconsin Tax Exempt Home Care Path

On Thursday January 20, 2011 The State Of Wisconsin Senate and Assembly both signed a bill creating a tax exemption for contributions to (HSA) Health Savings Accounts. HSA is classified as a tax advantage medical savings account.

HSA Health Savings Accounts came about as part of Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act which was signed in to law by President George W. Bush on December 8, 2003.

A HSA Health Savings Account the funds deposited can remian available from year to year. This is different than the FSA Flexible Spending Account where the funds cannot roll over and accumulate from year to year.

HSA saved funds can be used for qualified medical expenses. Part of the qualification process involves a medical doctors prescription. Money from HSA's is withdrawn for reimbursement very similar to medical insurance.

This Wisconsin Legislature eliminates state income tax on contributions made to health savings accounts. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com expects to hear more from the media on the subject of Health Savings Accounts in The State Of Wisconsin.

Malaria Travelers Home Care Path

Malaria is a parasitic disease. Malaria is caused by the bite of an infective female mosquito. Humans are the reservoir of human malaria. The time between the infective bite and the appearance of symptoms in the human is approximately 7 to 14 days.

Malaria symptoms can start as general discomfort and aches all over. This can become a fever which extends for several days. A shaking chill can accompany a rapidly rising body temperature. Head with neck ache. Nausea with some vomiting. Continued profuse sweating. Symptoms can vary in travelers using prophylactic drugs to help prevent malaria.

There are four human types of malaria that can be quite similar in the physical symptoms the human experiences. Laboratory study helps identify the species and improve diagnostic accuracy. In highly malarious areas , the presence of parasites and symptoms, does not mean that is all the traveler may have.

Malaria requires prompt and effective treatment of acute and chronic cases. Travelers are encouraged to use insect repellent, and wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Wear mosquito netting around face, and bed netting for night rest. Nightly spraying of living quarters with insecticide. Obligated case report as a disease under surveillance by WHO (World Health Organization).

H.R. 2 Repealing Health Care Reform Home Care Path

On Wednesday January 19, 2011 The House Of Representatives voted to repeal Health Care Reform. Two hundred and forty five voted to repeal Health Care Reform. One hundred eighty nine voted to retain Health Care Reform. H.R. 2 bill to repeal Health Care Reform can now be considered for for a vote on the floor of The Senate.

The vote questioned the authority of the United States Government regarding an individual amendment to the internal revenue code that would tax citizens who do not have a vailid pay source (health insurance) for being treated by a doctor in a clinic, hospital, or nursing home.

Under Health Care Reform the citizen can buy health insurance or they can pay a tax roughly equal to the cost of health insurance, which is used to subsidize the governments health care program and families who wish to purchase health insurance. It is suggested this is similar to industrial taxes placed on businesses that do not comply with polution standards.

Those argueing for repeal of Health Care Reform state the U.S. Government cannot declare a citizen a user of health care delivery service (clinic, hospital, nursing home) just to regulate behavior through a commerce clause. A person should be able to purchase health care service only when needed.

Those argueing to keep Health Care Reform in place state everyone will need medical services at some point in their lives and therefore is either a current or future participant in the health care delivery market and therefore subject to taxation. The citizens with no valid pay source cannot be left to die on the hospital entrance.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to watch this legislation as it unfolds from The House of Representatives to the U.S. Senate.

Meaningful Use Electronic Health Records Home Care Path

January 2011 hospitals and doctors can start applying for money for meaningful use of electronic health records. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) has authorized incentive payments through Medicare and Medicaid to clinicians and hospitals when they use electronic health records privately and securely to achieve defined improvements in the quality of the care delivered. This funding translates to 44 thousand through Medicare and 63, 750 through Medicaid per medical provider.

Health organizations will invest more funding on health information technology in an effort to capture a portion of the money made available from this 2009 economic stimulus bill. The goal goes beyond getting the entire nation to use electronic health records. Meaningful use requires medical providers to achieve significant improvements in health care. Stage one of meaningful use is that medical providers be able to give patients a paper copy of their health record.

The meaningful use goals will flow from a process of development through (CMS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and (DHHS) The Department of Health and Human Services. The legislation has tied the financial reimbursement specifically to the achievement of advances in medical processes and health outcomes. Legislators changing medical providers behavior with money for the purpose of improving the health of the patient population.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

What is Inverse Benefits? Home Care Path

Inverse Benefits is a term used by the medical industry in relation to drug marketing. Considered a marketing strategy. Drugs discovered with valid research for a specific group of patients, are marketed to a larger population as needed, most helpful, and safe.

Pharmeceutical marketing firms then aggressively sell the drugs benefits to physicians and patients across the nation. Physician focused information to instruct the Doctor on prescribing.

The new drugs being marketed have only been proven safe and effective for a small sub set of the population. One could say a medication that has not been proven safe for all age groups is not completely safe. Marketers are cleverly extending the medications use beyond the valid research data.

Prescribing providers are challenged to balance patient safety with the readily available drug marketing infromation. This information is intended to provide readers with a sense of the use of the term inverse benefits.

WHIE Wisconsin Health Information Exchange Home Care Path

In Madison Wisconsin (WISHIN) The Wisconsin State Wide Health Information Network has been formed to facilitate early stage assistance to participating health care organizations. WISHIN is a not for profit organization formed by the Wisconsin Hospital Association, The Wisconsin Health Information Organization, The Wisconsin Collaborative For Health Care Quality, and The Wisconsin Medical Society.

WISHIN will drive the implementation of (WHIE) The Wisconsin Health Information Exchange. The WHIE will allow more health care providers to receive electonic clinical care notes, lab results, from other health care providers for a patient that is not associated with the same clinc or health system. This makes the state wide exchange of medical information possible.

Wisconsin is receiving 9.4 million federal dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for the formation and operation of The Wisconsin Health Information Exchange.

WHIE provides for the secure, safe, transfer of health infromation between participating medical facilities. This improves patient care by preventing duplication, providing complete information at point of service, improving cetainty with diagnostic process, reducing readmissions.

This demonstrates a proactive approach to the changes occurring with the health care delivery system. Utilizing technology to improve the function of the mass of data collected daily in health care settings.

H.R. 2 Vote Post Poned Home Care Path

The U.S. House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on Wednesday January 12, 2011 on H.R. 2 Legislation repealing PPACA The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act. The scheduled vote has been cancelled due to the tradegy in Arizona.

The vote on H.R. 2 , legislation repealing The Affordable Care Act was scheduled after the mid term elections. Republicans in The House Of Representatives began occupying the 63 seats Democrats lost.

Speakers for the U.S. House Of Representatives report a plan to continue to debate the issue but in a more toned down fashion. Lawmakers state the desire to turn down the rhetoric. Rhetoric folds an artifical utilization onto the speech manipulating focus from the intended thought toward the person speaking. Reducing a singular focus, changes the receivers ability to comprehend the communicated message.

Citizens have begun to receive the benefits of PPACA The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This may be the most comprehensible form of communication the legislation brings forth.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to continue to follow this legislation as it unfolds.

Wisconsin Act 146 Transparency Home Care Path

In Wisconsin on Januray 1, 2011 patients have a right to information about charges, insurance payments, and out of pocket costs for the most common types of care at clinics and hospitals. Under Wisconsin Act 146 patients have a right to know a good faith estimate of the total out of pocket cost for a specified medical service. The bill states any good faith estimate provided is not a legally binding estimate.

Wisconsin Act 146 involves the transparency in all health care pricing, which is legislation sponsored by Representative Steve Kagen (D-WI), a physician. This legislation begins publication of pricing for services by hospitals, physicians, nursing services, pharmacies, drug manufacturers, dentist, and insurance providers. Legislators agree this is information consumers need to make informed decisions on health care spending.

The pricing information is only provided if the patient requests it. The insurance provider will ask the patient to submit the name of the provider performing the service, the name of the facility where the service will be delivered, the date the procedure is scheduled, and a procedural terminology code.

Tied to the publication of the actual cost will be lead indicators of the quality of the service performed. Information will indicate how successful the health facility is in meeting quality bench marks that indicate positive outcomes for the patient receiving the service.

The driving force is the consumer populations recognition that prices charged for an identical service can vary by thousands of dollars depending on the health facility performing the procedure. Consumers began to note that higher prices did not always translate to better service, or improved outcomes.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com reminds seniors that in Wisconsin they can request the out of pocket cost for a provider ordered service prior to receiving the procedure.

Wisconsin Going To Florida Court Room Judge Roger Vinson? Home Care Path

Scott Walker has been sworn in as Wisconsin State Governor. Governor Scott Walker has authorized Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to join a federal lawsuit in Florida challenging Health Care Reform. Health Care Reform mandates citizens to have a valid pay source for using the health care delivery system (clinics, hospitals, nursing homes).

Arguments against state the US Government cannot declare a citizen a user of health care delivery service (clinc, hospital, nursing home) just to regulate behavior through a commerce clause. A person should be able to purchase health care service only when needed.

Arguments for state everyone will need medical services at some point in their lives and therefore is either a current or future participant in the health care delivery system market and therefore subject to taxation. The citizens with no valid pay source cannot be left to die on the hospital steps.

Approximately 20 states have filed to participate in U.S. District Court In Northern Florida regarding Health Care Reform presided over by Judge Roger Vinson. Florida Attorney General is Bill McCullom.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors and families to follow this legislation as it unfolds.

HSA Health Savings Accounts Home Care Path

HSA Health Savings Accounts came about as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act which was signed in to law by President George W. Bush on December 8, 2003. HSA is classified as a tax advantage medical savings account.

The money contributed to a Health Savings Account is not subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. Contributions may be made on a pre tax basis through an employer. If the option does not exist through the employer, contributions can be made on a post tax basis, and used to decrease gross taxable income on the following years form 1040.

A HSA Health Savings Account the funds deposited can remain available from year to year. This is different than the FSA Flexible Spending Account where funds cannot roll over and accumulate from year to year.

HSA saved funds can be used for qualified medical expenses. Part of the qualification process involves a medical doctors prescription. Money from HSA's is withdrawn for reimbursement very similar to medical insurance.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com expects to hear more from the media in the future on the subject of Health Savings Accounts in The State Of Wisconsin.