Brown-Wilson's 2008 Black Book of Outsourcing survey has ranked Apollo Health Street Limited, the BPO unit of Apollo Hospitals Group, first in both the Healthcare Industry Payers and Providers BPO vendor categories.
AHS also ranked second in the 'HMOs, PPOs & Health Insurers BPO' and sixth in 'Third Party Administrators & Medicare/Medicaid Management Services Organizations BPO' vendor categories.
Every year Brown-Wilson Group evaluates leading global outsourcing service providers and advisors across 26 management criteria and 18 key performance indicators based on client experience. Independent and unbiased, Brown-Wilson Group invites more than 300,000 global outsourcing users to participate. This year's study included more than 24,000 responses worldwide.
The listing provides buyers of outsourcing and consulting services with an independent assessment of the world's leading providers and advisors based on category.
Source: The Black Book of Outsourcing, 2008.
Single-Payer Healthcare
February 11, 2009 11:54 AM EST | Gather
***** I received this from Public Citizen. It is an organization claiming to have no political afilliation the promotes issues of interest to the public. Instead of the letter they sent I went to the explanation of the program.
***** I received this from Public Citizen. It is an organization claiming to have no political afilliation the promotes issues of interest to the public. Instead of the letter they sent I went to the explanation of the program.
What do you all think? It looks as though there will be some form of national healthcare soon. Maybe this one would be the ticket? There are a couple of things that bother me a little.
i.e. "It would be based Medicare" Medicare only pays 80% +- that other 20 is a killer.
I see nothing about us retired folks on Medicare so am left to assume SS recipiants would be paying either 4.5% of income or 3.3% depending on how this bill is read, Perhaps nothing. It is not clear because it seems to be only for employed persons.
Before I back this bill I would have to know a lot more about it but it looks better than others I have seen. Keep in mind that this article is written by someone who wants it so has no opposition statements.
What is Single-Payer Healthcare?
Single-payer is a term used to describe a type of financing system. It refers to one entity acting as administrator, or "payer." In the case of healthcare, a single-payer system would be setup such that one entity-a government run organization-would collect all healthcare fees, and pay out all healthcare costs.
In the current US system, there are literally tens of thousands of different healthcare organizations-HMOs, billing agencies, etc. By having so many different payers of healthcare fees, there is an enormous amount of administrative waste generated in the system. (Just imagine how complex billing must be in a doctor's office, when each insurance company requires a different form to be completed, has a different billing system, different billing contacts and phone numbers-it's very confusing.)
In a single-payer system, all hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers would bill one entity for their services. This alone reduces administrative waste greatly, and saves money, which can be used to provide care and insurance to those who currently don't have it.
Access and BenefitsAll Americans would receive comprehensive medical benefits under single-payer. Coverage would include all medically necessary services, including rehabilitative, long-term, and home care; mental healthcare, prescription drugs, and medical supplies; and preventive and public health measures.
Care would be based on need, not on ability to pay.
PaymentHospital billing would be virtually eliminated. Instead, hospitals would receive an annual lump-sum payment from the government to cover operating expenses-a "global budget." A separate budget would cover such expenses as hospital expansion, the purchase of technology, marketing, etc.
Doctors would have three options for payment: fee-for-service, salaried positions in hospitals, and salaried positions within group practices or HMOs. Fees would be negotiated between a representative of the fee-for-service practitioners (such as the state medical society) and a state payment board. Government would serve as administrator, not employer.
FinancingWe propose an equitable financing program in which everyone pays their fair share. Under this program, all employers and employees will pay a modest payroll tax. This will produce a dramatic savings for those responsible private employers and state and local governments which currently purchase health insurance for their employees. By drawing on the immense wealth that has accrued to the richest Americans and large corporations over the past 25 years, 95% of all Americans will pay less for their healthcare than they are currently paying. Some of the key components to financing HR 676:
- Eliminates all employer contributions to private insurance premiums-replacing them with a modest payroll tax of 4.5% (in addition to the 1.45% currently paid towards Medicare).
- Eliminates all individual premiums, co-pays, deductibles and nearly all other out-of-pocket costs-replacing them with a modest payroll tax of 3.3% (in addition to the 1.45% currently paid towards Medicare).
- Relieves state and local governments of the immense burden of paying insurance premiums for medical coverage for their current and retired employees-replacing them with a modest payroll tax of 4.5% (in addition to the 1.45% currently paid towards Medicare).
The General Accounting Office projects an administrative savings of 10 percent through the elimination of private insurance bills and administrative waste, or $150 billion in 2002. This savings would pay for providing medical care to those currently under served.
Cost ContainmentThe Congressional Budget Office projects that single payer would reduce overall health costs by $225 billion by 2004 despite the expansion of comprehensive care to all Americans. No other plan projects this kind of savings.
Different Perspectives on the Benefits of Single-Payer PatientsEach person, regardless of ability to pay would receive high-quality, comprehensive medical care, and the free choice of doctors and hospitals. Individuals would receive no bills, and copayment and deductibles would be eliminated. Most people would pay less overall for health care than they pay now.
DoctorsDoctors' incomes would change little, though the disparity in income between specialties would shrink. The need for a "wallet biopsy" before treatment would be eliminated; time currently wasted on administrative duties could be channeled into providing care; and clinical decisions would no longer be dictated by insurance company policy.
Medical endorsements include PNHP (9,000), the American Public Health Association (30,000), American Association of Community Psychiatrists, Massachusetts Academy of Family Practice, American Medical Women's Association (13,500), Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Society, American Medical Student's Association, D.C. Medical Society, National Medical Association (6,500), American College of Physicians (Illinois Chapter), Long Island Dermatological Society, Islamic Medical Association, American Nurses Association, the Nurses' Network for a National Health Program, and the D.C. chapter of the American Medical Association.
HospitalsThe massive numbers of administrative personnel needed to handle itemized billing to 1,500 private insurance companies would no longer be needed. A negotiated "global budget" would cover operating expenses. Budgets for capital would be allocated separately based on healthcare priorities. Hospitals would no longer close because of unpaid bills.
Insurance IndustryThe need for private insurance would be eliminated. One single payer-bill currently in the House (H.R. 1200) would provide one percent of funding for retraining displaced insurance workers during its first few years of implementation.
BusinessIn general, businesses would see Single-Payer limit their health costs and remove the burden of administering health insurance for their employees. Read more about how single-payer helps small business in the Healthcare Now Small Business Brochure.
CongressSingle-payer would be the simplest and most efficient healthcare plan that Congress could implement. It would be based Medicare, one of the most successful national healthcare programs.
Tips For Avoiding Work-At-Home Scams
An old scam is making a comeback in the tough economy
Jan 29, 2009 5:18 pm US/Pacific
Reporting: Sue Kwon | cbs5.com
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― With California's unemployment rate now over 9%, people are looking everywhere for jobs. Some are turning to ads and websites offering work that you can do at home, with little or no training. But, legal experts say most work-at-home opportunities are probably scams, that have been around since the Great Depression.
California's Better Business Bureau said it has received 400 complaints about the website Processathome.com. The site promises you can earn up to $225 a day processing rebates, with less than 60 minutes of training.
Other so called job "opportunities" to watch out for:
The classic envelope stuffing scheme - Experts said the bottom line is it's unlikely you'll get paid to stay at home and stuff envelopes.
Craft Assembly - Job seekers are asked for up-front fees for a kit to assemble toys, dolls and other craft projects with the promise of a per piece rate.
Medical Billing - Job seekers are asked to pay $300-$900 to start their own medical billing service at home. In return, they're promised state-of-the art software and a list of potential clients. The reality is that most medical clinics do their own billing.
Jan 29, 2009 5:18 pm US/Pacific
Reporting: Sue Kwon | cbs5.com
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― With California's unemployment rate now over 9%, people are looking everywhere for jobs. Some are turning to ads and websites offering work that you can do at home, with little or no training. But, legal experts say most work-at-home opportunities are probably scams, that have been around since the Great Depression.California's Better Business Bureau said it has received 400 complaints about the website Processathome.com. The site promises you can earn up to $225 a day processing rebates, with less than 60 minutes of training.
Other so called job "opportunities" to watch out for:
The classic envelope stuffing scheme - Experts said the bottom line is it's unlikely you'll get paid to stay at home and stuff envelopes.
Craft Assembly - Job seekers are asked for up-front fees for a kit to assemble toys, dolls and other craft projects with the promise of a per piece rate.
Medical Billing - Job seekers are asked to pay $300-$900 to start their own medical billing service at home. In return, they're promised state-of-the art software and a list of potential clients. The reality is that most medical clinics do their own billing.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Some 'US'eful Medical Billing documents
Listed below are a few documents which will be very useful for all professionals involved with the US Medical Billing vertical. Just click the below links to preview, print or download the documents, all for free...
More and more documents will be added to the list as and when they become available. Anyone is welcome to share such useful documents that you may have...
Instruction Manuals and Job Aids
Medical Billing - A simple manual
Medical Billing Flow Chart
CMS 1500 - Instructions
CMS 1450 (UB-04) - Overview
CMS 1450 (UB-04) - Instructions
Modifiers
Modifiers for Medicare Billing
Medicare Part A Modifiers
Modifier 59
Proper use of Modifier 59
Medicare HIC Number Suffixes
Place Of Service Codes used in CMS 1500
Provider Taxonomy Codes
UCR - Usual, Customary and Reasonable Fees
Downcoding and Bundling of Claims
General Surgery Billing Guide
SNF Consolidated Billing
Emergency Room Outpatient Services Training Packet - An Old Manual
Emergency and ICU Procedures
Medicare Part A Intermediaries and Part B Carriers Listing
Basics of Insurance AR Calling
Basics of Patient Calling
AR Followup Tips
Phonetic Alphabets
Glossary
Glossary - General Coding Terminology
Glossary - Workers' Compensation
Sample & Usable Forms
CMS 1500
CMS 1450 (UB-04)
Dental Claim Form
List of Forms prescribed by the NY State Workers' Compensation Board
NF3 - No fault Insurance Claim Form
No-fault Insurance Arbitration Request Form
Presentations
Medical Billing - An Overview
Medical Billing Presentation
HIPAA Basics
HIPAA Presentation
More and more documents will be added to the list as and when they become available. Anyone is welcome to share such useful documents that you may have...
Instruction Manuals and Job Aids
Medical Billing - A simple manual
Medical Billing Flow Chart
CMS 1500 - Instructions
CMS 1450 (UB-04) - Overview
CMS 1450 (UB-04) - Instructions
Modifiers
Modifiers for Medicare Billing
Medicare Part A Modifiers
Modifier 59
Proper use of Modifier 59
Medicare HIC Number Suffixes
Place Of Service Codes used in CMS 1500
Provider Taxonomy Codes
UCR - Usual, Customary and Reasonable Fees
Downcoding and Bundling of Claims
General Surgery Billing Guide
SNF Consolidated Billing
Emergency Room Outpatient Services Training Packet - An Old Manual
Emergency and ICU Procedures
Medicare Part A Intermediaries and Part B Carriers Listing
Basics of Insurance AR Calling
Basics of Patient Calling
AR Followup Tips
Phonetic Alphabets
Glossary
Glossary - General Coding Terminology
Glossary - Workers' Compensation
Sample & Usable Forms
CMS 1500
CMS 1450 (UB-04)
Dental Claim Form
List of Forms prescribed by the NY State Workers' Compensation Board
NF3 - No fault Insurance Claim Form
No-fault Insurance Arbitration Request Form
Presentations
Medical Billing - An Overview
Medical Billing Presentation
HIPAA Basics
HIPAA Presentation
AHIP Members - Health Insurance Plan Links
There are times when we aggressively search the internet for details of the US Health Insurance Companies or Plans and finally find ourselves landing up on the official websites of the insurance companies to find most of the details what we were looking for. On the other hand, it might be even harder to find the official websites of certain insurance companies.
However it maybe, won't it be helpful if there is a webpage which lists the official website URLs of many US Health Insurance companies and plans?
AHIP's website has such a page titled Health Insurance Plan Links which does that, click the lin
k to check it out...
America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is the national association representing nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans. Their member companies offer medical insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, dental insurance, supplemental insurance, stop-loss insurance and reinsurance to consumers, employers and public purchasers.
However it maybe, won't it be helpful if there is a webpage which lists the official website URLs of many US Health Insurance companies and plans?
AHIP's website has such a page titled Health Insurance Plan Links which does that, click the lin
k to check it out...America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is the national association representing nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans. Their member companies offer medical insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, dental insurance, supplemental insurance, stop-loss insurance and reinsurance to consumers, employers and public purchasers.
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