The insurance denial process: one oncologist’s fight against a broken system

Here are the stories you missed on KevinMD. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the stories you missed on [KevinMD](. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors [Suki’s voice assistant]( is secure, affordable, and works seamlessly with all EHRs. Start a [15 day free trial]( to see how much time you can save. As we pass the [three-year anniversary]( of the COVID-19 pandemic and the end of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, it is a [time for reflection]( on the exceptional challenges faced and the incredible heroism we witnessed from all health care professionals. [Find your dream job with Careers by KevinMD](. Search 6,500+ employers and top physician jobs added daily. Connect with premier organizations and advance your career today. --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Apr 20, 2023 [The insurance denial process: one oncologist’s fight against a broken system]( It is 4:15 p.m. in my clinic, and I’m running an hour behind. One of my morning patients arrived acutely ill and thus required more of my time and attention than the schedule allotted for. Accordingly, every patient after that has ended up waiting for me. And, as I’m a cancer physician, each of them [...] [Fighting for life: inside an emergency room during a medical crisis]( The emergency room was bustling with activity as the medical staff worked to stabilize the patient, who was lying unconscious on a hospital bed. His wife sat anxiously by his side, tears streaming down her face. It wasn’t the first time 70-year-old Mr. Smith had been to the emergency room. His past medical history included [...] [Surviving infidelity: a story of strength and hope]( I was sitting alone in a rundown trailer in the woods, surrounded by five acres of trees that crowded the blue sky. I had 60 aminophylline pills in my hand, hoping they would end my life. As an asthmatic, I believed that this was the best way to escape my problems, and no one would [...] [April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day: Plan for your end-of-life care now]( When COVID killed thousands of seniors three years ago, few of them showed up in emergency rooms with advance directives. Even fewer thought about the end of life or how to die. Sadly, many lives were discarded in makeshift morgues/cooling trucks behind hospitals. It’s never too early to plan for the next pandemic, retirement, and [...] [From addiction to exclusion: a physician’s struggle for redemption]( Many consequences can happen to a physician who has faced the disease of addiction. One of the worst is to be placed on the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) exclusion list, which prohibits billing for both Medicare and Medicaid. During my hydrocodone addiction, I diverted the medication by writing prescriptions to my patients, who [...] [How strong leadership revives faltering health care cultures [PODCAST]]( In this episode, we are joined by Robert Allan Bear, a physician and health care consultant, to explore the challenges of maintaining strong organizational cultures in health care systems. Robert delves into the impact of pre-pandemic stress and pandemic-induced erosion on health care organizations, [...] [The battle for authorship: humanity vs. AI]( It has long been known that humans are scared of ghosts. So, it’s not surprising that humanity is getting scared of artificial intelligence. Too much has already been written about this fear. Here, it’s worth writing about one specific fear: the fear of sharing credits when artificial intelligence is “writing” for humanity and yet remaining [...] [Start your own locums agency today: a step-by-step guide]( Are you tired of being an employed physician or working for a staffing agency? Are you tired of being one of their many minions? Are you indeed ready to be your own boss? Are you ready to make some serious money? If so, then it’s time you start your own locums agency! Are you tired [...] [The sacred work of a quality doctor: lessons in contemplative medicine]( This past year I was fortunate to begin a fellowship in contemplative medicine at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. Maybe this isn’t the extra-curricular activity you would expect from an orthopedic trauma specialist. Since I entered medical school almost 30 years ago, this has been the most rewarding experience by far. Why? [...] [The secret to staying alert during night shifts: coffee naps and more]( Working night shifts in health care, particularly emergency medicine, requires maintaining alertness and focus during extended hours. I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges and risks associated with sleep deprivation, including a frightening incident when I fell asleep while driving after a long stretch of night shifts. Fortunately, nothing serious occurred, but it highlighted the importance of [...] --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors Learn actionable ways to [transform your documentation]( to improve clinical communication and optimize your quality metrics and reimbursement. Join All Global Circle and receive an [exclusive bonus of up to $50](. Share your professional opinions and insights by participating in our surveys and earn honoraria. [Purchase Prepared Physician suture kits]( and save money and time! Physician-owned and operated, sourced from U.S. suppliers. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Patient privacy: Why it matters more than you think]( A survey published by the American Medical Association (AMA) last year reveals that patients are very concerned about the privacy of their medical information, perhaps more concerned than most physicians and practices are aware. As health care providers using the latest medical technology, we tend to view the ability to share information electronically with other [...] [Preventing falls in seniors: the surprising role of shoes [PODCAST]]( In this episode, Sheetal Gambhir, a geriatrician, discusses the importance of feet in preventing falls in elderly patients. She shares insights on what to look for in shoes, including surface area, heel height, and sole consistency. She also highlights the challenges in translating academic [...] [Food is medicine: Why doctors care about the Farm Bill]( As the spring planting season approaches, seven farmers from my home state of Illinois traveled to Washington, DC to participate in the “Farmers for Climate Action” rally. Farmers sought meetings with lawmakers, including Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Sen. Durbin and others are crafting the Farm Bill, and the farmers [...] [Raising reimbursements: the Medicaid imperative]( One early evening in June, we sat in the second row of a Health Sciences Building classroom with 79 other students enrolled in the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP). We were excited to hear a guest lecture from a program alumnus, a clinician who shared that he, too, had lived in an underserved [...] [Revolutionizing medicine: the journey of health care and AI]( The intertwining of history, health care, and artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized medicine, opening up new possibilities for diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. This article will explore the journey from the inception of health care to the current era of AI-driven medical advancements and envision the future of AI in health care. Health care through [...] [Why retail giants will revolutionize American health care]( In health care, as in life, people devote a lot of time and attention to the way things should be. They’d be better off focusing on what actually could be. As an example, 57% to 70% of American voters believe our nation “should” adopt a single-payer health care system like Medicare for all. Likewise, public health advocates insist [...] [An anesthesiologist’s solution to outdated OR case scheduling [PODCAST]]( In this episode, we speak with Michael Bronson, an anesthesiologist, founder and CEO of AnesthesiaGo, about his journey into healthcare entrepreneurship. Michael discusses the pain points he encountered as a scheduler for anesthesia staff and how he discovered an empty niche waiting to be [...] --------------------------------------------------------------- If a friend sent you this email and you want to subscribe, go to [KevinMD](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 345 Hudson Street New York NY 10014 USA [Unsubscribe]( | [Change Subscriber Options](