| A valuable feature of this program is access to the services of a Patient Advocate. Patient Advocacy gives you an array of value-added services. Your personal Patient Advocate can help: |
- Save you considerable time and money.
- Eliminate the hassles and frustrations typically encountered when dealing with the healthcare system.
- Assist you in finding doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers.
- Protect your privacy and confidentiality.
- Facilitate access to medical centers.
- Cut through the red tape and effectively solve problems.
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| Personal Patient Advocates are a trained administrative team. When you call for assistance, you will be assigned a personal Patient Advocate who will take responsibility for helping you. The Patient Advocate team does the legwork. The team makes the phone calls and assists in making all of the necessary arrangements. Simply put, Patient Advocates help to make sure that you get the most from your healthcare experience. |
| Depending on life circumstances, people seek counsel on a range of health needs. The Patient Advocacy service will help you identify medical institutions and providers throughout the country to assist you in meeting your complex medical needs. |
| For more routine needs, the provider locator service will help you identify physicians and institutions anywhere in the country. This service is especially valuable for individuals who need a new doctor, travel often or are relocating to a new community. |
| Dealing with healthcare bills, payment arrangements and related administrative issues is no simple task. It is time-consuming and it can be costly if you don't know how to navigate the health and insurance systems. Your personal Patient Advocate will help sort out and solve these complex issues for you. He or she works through administrative issues, assists with benefit denials and helps negotiate billing overcharges. Your Patient Advocate also provides advice or assistance to you when filing a complaint or grievance with your insurer. The program offers you the confidence that you have a strong knowledgeable advocate in your corner at all times. |
| Your personal Patient Advocate helps guide you in selecting services that best meet your needs. He or she will also help arrange for necessary services with third-party vendors to meet your personal schedule. |
| Members are responsible for payment to physicians, hospitals, and other health care or service providers. Your Patient Advocate will always review your options with you in advance of contracting with a third-party provider. |
| Your Patient Advocate is not a trained or licensed physician, nurse or other medical provider. Your Patient Advocate can help you with the following administrative tasks: |
The Patient Advocacy program
- Helps find physicians, hospitals, dentists, and related healthcare providers
- Verifies network participation
- Coordinates medical record transfers
- Provides nationwide service
- Fee Negotiator
- Assistance locating Grievance Counselors
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine: assistance with locating acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage therapy services.
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| How To Use The Patient Advocacy Service: |
| Simply call the Patient Advocacy number on your Member ID Card and one of the personal Patient Advocates will help you. |
| It is important to note that the Patient Advocacy service does not provide health insurance or medical care, nor does it recommend treatment. The service is not a substitute for your current health insurance plan. |
| Patient Advocacy fully respects and protects the privacy of the program members and the confidentiality of their medical information. |