(1) Keep paper claims.  Yes, it may be a drain on the environment, but there are somethings you need paper on.  Although you can probably get away with printing them yourself as that would save the extra paper, envelope, and stamp.  As soon as I get a claim in the mail (or as soon as you print), I highlight the patient, date, provider, and my responsibility.  That makes it easy to organize once the medical bills come in.

(2)  File folders.  I have four file folders to keep track.  Claims to pay, claims paid, pharmacy receipts, and other insurance information.  I try to file things once a month, if not sooner.

(3) Make sure to take the important pharmacy receipt.  I use Walgreen’s, as it’s basically a block from my house, so I’m not sure how other pharmacies print their receipt information.  I keep the receipt that prints with the prescription information, that gives the details about the prescription filled and the amount paid.  The receipt from the register just says you paid for an Rx, not what and who it was for. I find it easier to file these as soon as I get home, otherwise you chance the risk of losing one.

(4) Medical bills.  I pay my medical bills as soon as I can.  You can usually save time and patience by using onliine bill payment systems whenever possible and just print the receipt for your records.  As soon as a medical bill is paid, I staple the bill and the receipt of payment to the paper claim.  Then file it under Claims paid.

(5) Is electronic really better?  I was all for keeping track of my spending via electronic means.  I even created an elaborate database with reports.  However, as soon as my daughter was born, that database went out the window.  If you have the time and the skills, it’s helpful, but I found it much more efficient to use my insurance companies export feature at the end of the year with a little manual entry.  Excel, or open office spreadsheet software, can work miracles in a few hours for tax time.  Figure out what your options and skill set are, and design a system that works for you.

At the end of the day, simple is better.  The IRS just wants to make sure you are using those distributions for qualified medical expenses, otherwise they want their tax cut.  Consult your tax adviser for more information.

With my HDHP, I have had to track every dollar and cent that I get charged.  I want to make sure I’m getting the most for my high deductible dollar so I learned, the hard way in some cases, that shopping around and watching every piece of mail from Humana was essential.  Take the decision to have surgery for my son, for instance.  It took 3 different doctors and over 6 months before we decided that we would put him through the procedure.  The second physician, from a highly respectable children’s hospital, charged us 3 times for a second opinion what the original doctor charged us for a consult.  For those of you not familiar with physician billing, a consult is much more involved than a regular office visit and is, therefore, usually more expensive.

When I called to complain about my high bill, the billing person said, ” Well, you have insurance.”  Yes, I have insurance, but I have and HDHP, I had to pay $500 of the $600 charge.  Some may say that would be reason enough not to go with an HDHP, I say, it’s reason enough for me not to use that particular institution’s services again. Having an HDHP empowers you not to stick with the same old same old because it’s comfortable.  You could be saving yourself mongo bucks to move to another physician.

I also learned that even though I knew every time I took my son to the doctor it would cost me $73.41, it never once had me hesitating to take him.  Some things are more important than those deductible dollars…

At my job, I pay $200 a month in premiums for the insurance.  I have a $6000 deductible with a $10000 out of pocket max and 10% coinsurance.  With an HDHP, your deductible counts towards your out of pocket.  I also put $187.50 a paycheck into a Health Savings Account, or HSA.  So, every month, I pay $575 towards health care.  If I were to go with my work’s PPO plan, I would pay about $575 and then still have to cover a deductible and out of pocket expense.  With an HSA, the $375 I put in my account every month, I get to keep until I use it.  My work also puts in $125 a month into my HSA account.

When I talk to people about going with an HSA v. regular plan, I always hear the same things.  “But we never go the doctor, I would have to pay every single time”.  Yes and no.  There’s about a $300 difference in monthly premiums between our company’s HDHP and PPO or HMO offerings, believe or not the HMO is actually the most expensive.  $300 a month difference equates to $3600 a year.  If you rarely go to the doctor, the HDHP is worth the yearly savings, especially with preventive care being covered at 100 percent before I reach my deductible.  I have two little kids, no more $20 copays.

Let me tell you, I had a baby last year and my son had tube surgery.  I fulled my deductible before I even had the baby.  I still spent less then going with my company’s PPO plan.  It’s all about the specs…

To make matters worse, the father of said soldier was being ordered to pay the church’s legal costs from him suing them, because it violated their freedom of speech.  Wait… their freedom of speech?  I have no problem with peaceful protest but I do have a problem with protesting a funeral, especially a soldier.  These men and women have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect the rest of us.  What about their freedom to be laid to rest in peace without religious zealots claiming they died because the country allows homosexuality?  No, they died because religious zealots, like yourselves, think they have the right to blow people up because their views are different.

I cannot believe our justice system has allowed the injustice of such immorality to uphold free speech. I have always maintained, yes, the constitution allows you to say whatever you want, but there’s nothing in there that says you won’t have to pay the consequences for what you say.  G_D BLESS OUR TROOPS!

What exactly is HIM all about?  Essentially, HIM is the study of medical record science. Back in the day, HIM was centered in the medical record department in Hospitals.  Clerks filing paper and keeping track of patients medical records. Nowadays, HIM was evolved to encompass medical coding and reimbursement, management of a hybrid medical record (both paper and electronic), and the knowledge of ever increasing technology advances.  My career has always been focused on the electronic side of the medical record.  In my current position, I’m akin to a liaison between my Coding and Reimbursement Department and the IT department.  I understand computers and technology and can speak the language.

HIM classes involve coding, medical sciences (study of anatomy and disease), documentation, and computer/technology.  HIM professionals should be experts in standards and regulations in regards to health care documentation and need to be flexible to the changing roles.  With the passing of HIPAA (and yes, it really is spelled HIPAA) and the addition of e-Discovery rules, HIM professionals are taking on new projects and roles within the ever changing aspects of health care.  For more information, visit the American Health Information Management Association website (www.ahima.org).

With the latest health reform legislation, I see good and I see bad.  But what I find most irritating, is not one politician is into telling the truth.  I feel the republicans are more interested in lying and coming up with the most absurd comment for the day than actually helping the American people.  Being the party of “No” is not helping anyone.  We need jobs, health care, and more funding for education.  We don’t need politicians blocking every bill just because they can.

I’m frustrated with the democrats, as well, and I consider myself one.  I feel they are more interested in gloating and trying to push things through Congress than actually listening and telling what legislation will actually do.  I would have more respect for the Democrats and the White House if they would stop and breathe for a second before pushing legislation through with obscure Congressional Rules.

I’m tired of additional laws being added on to legislation that have nothing to do with each other.  Case in point, school loan legislation being added on to health care reform.  I think the student loan legislation will help a lot of people, but pass it on it’s own merit!  At the same time, politicians are holding out for pet projects for their states.  I live in Illinois, I don’t feel I should have to pay for your pet project in Nebraska just because you can hold out your vote for the highest bid.

Last but not least, I’m tired of the average American citizen spouting off before they have a true understanding of what the legislation will do.  People complain that they don’t want the government to interfere with their health care.  What do insurance companies do everyday?  And we keep paying their ridiculous premiums.  People complain about the health insurance mandate.  Ummm… how about auto insurance?  I’m not 100% sure but I think just about every state requires a driver to have auto insurance to drive?  I know my bank requires us to buy house insurance every year. The uninsured is one the main factors driving health care costs.  Mandating everyone to have health insurance will drive down premiums for the average American and help to reduce overall health care costs.

As Americans and patients, we need to educate ourselves, not spout off the latest sound bite from politicians. We need to work together to solve problems, not attack each other at every chance. We need to make better choices whether it be our lifestyles, health care or candidates for public office.  Educate yourself, be bipartisan, and make better choices, or keep your mouth shut!