MedWorm Tags: charges

Even With Insurance, Childbirth Is An Expensive Undertaking

Better Health — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Childbirth hospital costs these days aren’t cheap. Some studies suggest the cost of raising a child exceeds $200,000, not including education expenses. Most insurance companies charge women of childbearing age more for their insurance because the actuarial tables say so. Mrs Happy and I now have a 3 month old Zachary in our wings. He is a cute little peanut. His two brothers, Marty and Cooper adore him. Forty-two days after his April 21st, 2011 delivery, we still had not received our explanation of benefits from Blue Cross Blue Shield for the midwife charge. I had previously received a statement from them saying the charge was under review. Perhaps they believed that delivering Zachary was not medically necessary. I can’t explain it. When I called to ask them w...

Matthew Israel, Founder of Judge Rotenberg, Steps Down in Disgrace

World of Psychology — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:50:56 +0100

We missed reporting this at the end of May when it happened, but I like to close the loop on stories we’ve discussed in the past, so I thought it relevant to mention here. We’ve previously detailed how the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton, Mass. has a “treatment” for out-of-control children where electric shocks are given in order to curb their behavior (ala BF Skinner). We’ve also noted the horror of the incident where a former patient was able to make a single phone call and cause the staff to shock two children in its care over 100 times. Now, finally, the founder of the school, Matthew Israel, has agreed to step down from the Center in order to avoid prison time. In an agreement reached with the state’s Attorney General, he will be on pro...

Dr Bruce Saul Kay Faces Charges for Inappropriate Prescriptions

Inside Surgery — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:40:57 +0100

Dayton orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bruce Saul Kay faces charges brought by Ohio medical authorities for the inappropriate prescribing of drugs to fifteen patients. (Source: Inside Surgery)

British National Health Service Surgeon Practiced After Conviction in Spain for Manslaughter

Inside Surgery — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 16:07:48 +0100

Surgeon Marcos Hourmann practiced at two separate NHS facilities despite being convicted on manslaughter charges in Spain involving a mercy killing of an elderly patient. (Source: Inside Surgery)

EMR Stimulus Question and Answer: Time Period for Medicare Allowable Charges

EMR and HIPAA — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:51:12 +0100

You know how I love when readers ask me questions. Especially when I can use them to create a blog post. Why you ask? Because then at least I know I’m making one reader happy. Although, if one reader had the question, it’s also quite likely that MANY more had the same question. On that note, the following is a question sent to me by Radhika: To qualify for EMR stimulus money we need $24,000 in allowable medicare charges per physician. I am not sure whether we have to show the $24,000 over a period of 1 year or 90 days. Can you please clarify? This is a great question. The short answer is you have the entire year to accrue the $24,000 in allowable Medicare charges that’s required to get the full EMR stimulus money in year 1 (you get paid 75% of your Medicare allowable char...

Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Brian Keith Ellefsen Sentenced For Tax Evasion

Inside Surgery — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:02:26 +0100

Southwest Missouri orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Keith Ellefsen and his brother Mark Ellefsen have been sentenced to prison for their felony conviction on tax evasion charges. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Michael Jackson’s Doctors Cleared of Criminal Misconduct

Inside Surgery — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:58:26 +0100

The California State Attorney General’s office has cleared seven physicians and one nurse from possible criminal charges relating to the death of singer Michael Jackson. Dr. Conrad Murray who has been charged with manslaughter was not part of the investigation. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Former Surgeon Dr. Karl Ehrens Wanted For Stalking

Inside Surgery — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:38:53 +0100

Former South Carolina surgeon Dr. Karl Ehrens is wanted on charges of harassment for allegedly stalking an 18 year old woman in Charleston, South Carolina. (Source: Inside Surgery)

Prescription charges review: implementing exemption from prescription charges for people with long term conditions

Fade Library — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:00:55 +0100

Title: Prescription charges review: implementing exemption from prescription charges for people with long term condition Skinny: Independent review on how a prescription charge exemption for people with long term conditions should be implemented, including how it would be phased in. Any decisions on future changes to the system of prescription charges and exemptions would need to be taken in the context of the next Spending Review, which is due to report in the Autumn. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 2p. Published: 27/05/10 Filed under: Grey Literature, NHS Tagged: Chronic Diseases, Financial Management, Gilmore Report, Grey Literature, Long Term Conditions, Prescription Charges (Source: Fade Library)

Felony Charges for Recording a Plainclothes Officer

Cato-at-liberty — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:23:42 +0100

By David RittgersYesterday I wrote about the University of Maryland student beaten by police and falsely charged with assault during a post-game celebration. I concluded with a warning that a law barring citizens from taking photos or videos of law enforcement officers (such as those in force in Great Britain) would have prevented the false charges and beating from coming to light. I did not know that Maryland was already heading that direction. Video: // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ DayPortPlayer.newPlayer({articleID:"22384",accSite:"WMAR",accPos:"CCTVI.NEWS.LOCAL",categoryID:"14",rootCategory:"",domain:"wmar.web.entriq.net",playerInstanceID:"24FAD9E0-DC70-2532-414F-7E6F051C4C2F",videoAdConDefID:"2",videoAdObjectID:"4",bannerAdObjectID:"5"}); // ]]> Anthony Graber was riding his motorcycle...

Teenage Bullying Leads to 9 Indictments

World of Psychology — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:17:02 +0100

You know things have gotten bad when prosecutors start prosecuting teens — some on felony charges that could result in significant jail time — because of bullying. Yes, bullying. Most of us have experienced bullying at one point in our lives, or know someone who has been bullied. Of course for most, the bullying didn’t result in lifelong scars. Part of that is because the extremes of bullying were not really known 20 or 30 years ago. You couldn’t bully someone 24/7 through Facebook, Twitter, email and forums devoted entirely to making other people’s lives miserable (yes, such online communities exist). So nowadays sometimes bullying is taken to an extreme. Not by one or two teens or kids, but by a whole gang of them. In central Massachusetts, it led Phoebe P...

Implementing the Health Act 2006: review of fees for applications to provide pharmaceutical services in England: consultation document

Fade Library — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:44:39 +0100

Title: Implementing the Health Act 2006: review of fees for applications to provide pharmaceutical services in England: consultation document Skinny: The National Health Services Pharmaceutical Services (Fees for Applications) Directions 2008 (as amended in April 2008) came into force on 21 April 2008 and specify the types of application for which a fee will be payable and the levels of such fees. The Government undertook during the passage of the Health Bill 2006 to consider a general review of this measure 18 months after it was introduced. This consultation asks for views on the impact of charging on the NHS, pharmacy and appliance contractors and applicants and whether or not the current fees represent a fair contribution to NHS costs. Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 23p Published: ...

Recent Statutory Instruments Relating to Health

Fade Library — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:02:55 +0100

SI 2009 No. 2607 (W.210) NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, WALES. The National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 SI 2009 No. 2541 (W.205) CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS, WALES. SOCIAL CARE, WALES. The Children Act 1989, Care Standards Act 2000 and Adoption and Children Act 2002 (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2009 SI 2009 No. 2539 (W.203) (C.105) LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WALES. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2) (Wales) Order 2009 Posted in Legislation, Statutory Instruments Tagged: Adoption, Care Standards Act, Children, Legislation, Prescription Charges, Stakeholder Engagement, Statutory Instruments (Source: Fade Library)

Lots of stuff to look at

The Angriest Pharmacist — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:36:38 +0100

Finally, a non bullshit assessment of generic drugs from someone without their head up their ass. They got valid opinions from people that matter and aren’t retarded. http://www.newsmagazinenetwork.com/feature/cover-stories/090512-671/brand-name-versus-generic-drugs — Here’s a case that is a bit odd. Mother and son run away after MD tells them the 13 yr old’s Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is worsening. Mother rejected chemo and western medicine and settled for tried, tested, and true homeopathic Indian Medicine. The courts did not think this was a good idea. http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/25/minnesota.forced.chemo/ Let us not forget,”Child Dies, Parents Perplexed”: http://www.theangriestpharmacist.com/2008/03/28/child-dies-parents-perplexed/ — Here&#...

The price of compassion

Malaysian Medical Resources — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

The kidney-shaped bed pan costs RM16 while a pack of sanitary pads costs RM15.50. These were among the items that were struck off the bill after the insurance company went through the charges one by one. The doctor gave the go-ahead to check out at 10am but we left the hospital only five hours later. Private medical care is unfortunately a business and it’s big business which dictates the cost of hospital charges these days. While the PHFSA regulates doctors charges, there is nothing other than “market forces’ to regulate hospital charges which makes up the bulk of the hospital bill. Ethical practice will go a long way to containing costs. The hospital can charge so much for sanitary pads but compassion on the other hand is priceless. from the Malaysian Medical Resources...

Tipping the Scales? You May Be Paying Up.

Healthbolt — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:37:35 +0100

Bad news if you’re overweight and are employed by the state of Alabama. If you don’t ease up on your Southern-fried favorites and hit the gym a bit more, you’ll end up paying $25 a month for insurance that is otherwise free to the un-fat folk. That’s right, in an unprecedented move to encourage state workers to slim down, Alabama will be the first state in the nation to charge overweight workers who don’t make the effort to lighten up. This $25 insurance fee will join the already-in-place $24/month fee that ‘Bama employees are charged for smoking. The state says it’s seen some success in getting their workers to quit lighting up, so they reason this new fee will encourage thicker employees to skinny up. Alabama is, after all, ranked second in the ...

Clement Attlee was right about the NHS

NHS Blog Doctor — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:18:00 +0100

Professor Lord McColl The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there. A long time ago, in a land far away, Dr Crippen was houseman to Professor Lord McColl as he then wasn’t. Those were the days. Each medical and surgical "firm" had two housemen, two SHOs, a registrar and two or even three surgeons. The housemen worked over a hundred hours a week thus providing continuity of care for the patients. You did not go on Prof McColl’s ward round without having the details of all the patients at your finger-tips. A senior nurse always came on the ward rounds to present the nursing side of story. Nurses were nurses then. Those really were the days. I remember assisting Prof McColl at an operation. Tired and concentrating hard I leaned forward slightly too much and my fore...

Charges dropped against Mr. Universe

The Diabetes Blog — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Events, SupportLast week Amy Tenderich, creator of Diabetes Mine and co-author of Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes, sent out an email asking us to speak out on behalf of Mr. Universe. I remembered the gist of the story when it first happened, back in April. What I didn't realize was the ensuing atrocities for Mr. Burns after the event. Back in April, Doug Burns was maced by police during a hypoglycemic event at a movie theater. During the episode, the police assumed he was intoxicated, despite a bystander's insistence that it might be a diabetes issue. He was handcuffed, thrown into a car, and driven to a nearby ER without proper treatment for his hypoglycemia. Officers arrested him for assault and resisting arrest. Prosecutors initially insisted Bu...