Medical Identity Theft – One of the Fastest Growing Crimes

blogger

From keeping up with the latest technologies to providing top-notch patient care, there’s no doubt that healthcare industry professionals have a lot on their plate these days. But, would you imagine that one of their major concerns has nothing to do directly with patient care? Healthcare practices are spending large amounts of time and money keeping their practices compliant with the latest HIPAA regulations, and working hard to prevent a new trend in crime – medical identity theft. While it may not be making mainstream headlines, according to Javelin Strategy and Research, fraud resulting from exposure of health data has increased 112% year over year, from 3% in 2008 to 7% in 2009. To put this stat in perspective, medical identity theft is regarded as the fastest growing form of identity theft in America today and it is estimated that each year 250,000 to 500,000 people become victims of medical identity theft. Just like identity theft, medical identity theft is the act of stealing medical records or medical information of a patient. Both the medical facility and the patient suffer great losses once they are victimized by this type of crime. Imagine this scenario – when you check your mail one day, you find a giant bill from a hospital emergency room, yet you haven’t been to the doctor for anything other than a routine visit in years. So where did this five-figure bill with your name on it come from? The answer -someone stole your information and used it to obtain medical treatment and/or prescription drugs. Unfortunately, medical theft is a growing epidemic and is largely attributable to the large volume of paperwork medical providers are required to keep, in order to maintain 100% HIPAA compliance. Instances of medical identity theft are commonly reported when:

* Patients’ records are accidentally faxed or mailed to the wrong person * Medical records are stolen and misused after being disposed of improperly * Laptops containing confidential information or medical records are lost or stolen * Medical files left unattended in file rooms, on staff desks and in door folders; or unrestricted physical access to sensitive medical files.

While these security breaches might sound relatively innocuous, they are a huge concern. Not only does the medical facility face damage to their reputation and restitution fees, but also HIPAA has enacted legislation over the last year that makes such breaches very expensive – and on a punitive scale. Even worse, the victim may not realize the crime has occurred immediately due to lags in billing cycles so the theft is larger and potentially more costly. As if these scenarios aren’t nightmarish enough, add the fact that someone’s medical records could be tampered with, leading to improper medical care or misdiagnosis. With these costs to both victims and facilities in mind, preventing medical identity theft must be a high priority for medical facilities. It’s especially critical for smaller practices to take precautionary measures because they may have fewer internal protocols to protect patients…and shallower pockets to weather such an event. Ways to reduce medical identity theft include:

Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Lane and Lane

blogger

When it comes to Medical Malpractice, individuals understand that it is nothing short of a delicate matter. In all sides of the story, every party will feel fragile and wronged, but of course, the victims are always effected the most, and in many cases, they have been wronged, and mistreated, which is why the outcome of a situation has led them to take or seek out a Chicago Medical Malpractice Attorney, to see if any compensation can be received. Although sometimes the outcomes of cases isn’t as victims desired, they can at least feel more at peace knowing they did something, and tried to right a wrong in the most grown up and adult manner. But in order to win a case, you need to get the very best of the best attorneys behind you, so that no detail is missed, and every corner of the case is examined.

It is widely known, that doctors can take out certain professional liability insurances, which cover them for many cases of medical malpractice, but this doesn’t always stop victims from receiving compensation and what is deserved, as they are the ones who have either lost a loved one, or have to live with the outcomes of medical treatments. Attorneys can look into how this doctor has performed in the past, and if anything else has ever gone wrong with their medical procedures, and attorneys can also end up changing policies through winning cases, so where it may seem impossible to win a case because of a already set policy, an attorney can provide reasons why that policy should be changed, and win the case, thus making the world a better place by preventing future cases being developed. If you have been wronged, and lost someone, at least you will know that you have helped others avoid the same corruption you have had to encounter.

One company of attorneys which has a glowing reputation is Lane and Lane personal injury lawyers. Lane and Lane offer a service unlike any other, they offer the expertise to win cases and provide victims with what they deserve from situations, and also offer a personal human touch, that creates a warmth and comfort in all their clients. The one thing missing from most law offices is the ability to act humane, people forget they are dealing with peoples emotions, and everything goes by like 1,2,3. But with Lane and Lane, you can feel at home and get to know who you are dealing with, and as they are a family run company, you can feel the closeness in the offices, although they are built up of partners, they all work as a team of partners, which is a very effective way to run a business.

The lawyers at Lane and Lane have won many Medical Malpractice cases, and have even changed some policies working towards a brighter future. Simply take a look at their website, and view all the information they have on offer, you will soon see that they are up there with the best of law offices, and will assist you in winning your case.

Medical Alert Systems and In Home Care Can Combat Rising Healthcare Costs

blogger

A medical alert system can bring children of aging parents the peace of mind of knowing that their parents, who may live alone, can reach help if they experience a fall or other accident. The most common reason for purchasing a medical alert is wanting to make sure that an elderly loved one who is generally able to live independently is able to reach help when they need it. But can this tool for independent living also be a weapon in the fight against rising healthcare costs in the United States?

The population of the United States includes 39 million individuals over the age of 65 as of 2008, and by the year 2030, this number is expected to skyrocket to 72 million, as “Baby Boomers” reach the age of 65.

So, the aging population is growing. The individuals of the “baby boom” generation are reaching senior age, causing the senior population to increase dramatically. Not only that, but healthcare advances have allowed people to live longer; there are many more people reaching their 80s, 90s and even past 100. Those who reach these ages are, on average, suffering a large number of physical ailments and as a consequence, they consistently incur high medical expenses.

More seniors, fighting more physical ailments means a higher healthcare cost amongst our increasingly senior population. In fact, by the year 2030, health care for seniors is predicted to account for 25% of all the nations health care expenditures.

This is where a medical alert system can help. The price of equipment rental and monitoring can be less than $1 per day; a long hospital stay costs much more than that. The longer a senior waits to receive help after a fall, the more complications they will experience.

If a senior citizen falls, and is unable to summon help within the first hour, they are extremely likely to lose their independence, and most in this situation are ultimately placed in nursing homes.

With a medical alert system, an individual can get quick help, which often eliminates the need for a lengthy hospital stay, and prevents seniors from experiencing complications from their fall that land them permanently in a nursing home or care facility.

In conjunction with in-home care provided either by a professional service or a member of the seniors family, a medical alert system can keep an elderly individual out of a hospital, out of a nursing home, and can extend the amount of time in which he or she can live at home safely.

The average cost of nursing homes can top an average pricetag of $83,585/year, or $229/day. A medical alert system rental and monthly monitoring service costs less than $1/day.

While the rapidly rising population of seniors in the United States as well as recent changes to Medicare almost certainly guarantee a drastic spike in healthcare costs, this increase can be slowed. Preventative measures are the key to lowering healthcare costs in the United States, as it decreases the amount of costly emergency care and the many expenditures that come when an individual is no longer able to live in their homes.

Your Worksite and Medical Marijuana

blogger

Nowadays, with 14 US states that have legalized medical marijuana, there are perhaps hundreds of thousands of employers, who wonder about the ways to keep the worksite drug free and meantime provide the adequate environment for workers, who are taken through marijuana treatment. In reality, the general medical marijuana topic is a mess. The federal authorities dont want to move from their all marijuana is illegal position and marijuana-legal states have unbelievably different approaches to the issue. Thus, there has never been a better time for reviewing drug policy of your company.

Here are some guidelines to the major white spots:

For enterprises that work for the government, like those with federal contracts, the directing document should be Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, which bans the utilization of marijuana in jobsites that participate in federal contracts.

The DOT Department of Transportation as well bans the use of medical marijuana for employees that are in so-called safety-sensitive positions, such as bus drivers, subway operators, truck drivers, armed transit security, ship captains, and pilots. This ban covers all states, involving the states that have legalized medical marijuana. Thus, even if you have a medical marijuana card, but you have to fly a 757, you have to make sure that your medical marijuanas effect has passed, when you board your pilot seat.

Some attorneys advise to treat marijuana treatment as if it was a use of any other prescription drug, and the worker could do it legally and safely. They claim that such attitude can save employers both money and time in a situation that leads medical marijuana to the point of getting more and more accepted by society and becoming legalized in greater number of states during the next few years.

Different States Different Regulations

First of all, in the legalized states, every patient that has a medical marijuana card is protected from detainment as long as they have dealt with all the needed documentation and has the proof of a doctors approval for their marijuana treatment. But this is just the beginning.

If you live and work in Oregon or California and you are tested positive for marijuana at your workplace, you can get fired. You can even be fired if you use medical marijuana with the required approval, and a prescription from your physician, who takes you through your marijuana treatment.

Just recall a precedent back in 2008 the Ross vs. RagingWire case. Back then, the Supreme Court of California settled that the employer drug test is legal and that it isnt discriminative to fire a worker for marijuana use, even when its not used in the jobsite. Oregon had the Emerald Steel Fabricators, Inc. vs. Bureau of Labor and Industries, the states Supreme Court settled that Oregon employers have to not support the workers medical marijuana use, since the federal law takes priority over state laws.

Patients that undergo marijuana treatment in Vermont, will be most probably arrested if found using or under the influence of medical marijuana in their workplaces. The same is true about New Mexico patients.

In certain states, such as Rhode Island and Maine, you wont be discriminated or fined for your employment of medical marijuana, if you have a medical marijuana card.

In the end, simply dont forget to review the regulations and laws of your state thoroughly, prior to using medical marijuana either at home or in the jobsite.

What Is Medical Malpractice and Who Can Help A Victim of Medical Malpractice

blogger

Whether you visit your doctor for a routine check -up or enter the hospital as an emergency patient, you deserve and the law emphasizes that physicians deliver good quality medical care. Unfortunately, the medical system can collapse, physicians misdiagnose, hospital administrators delay treatment, leading to tragedy. Wrong doses of medication get administered by nurses accidentally, nurses fail to screen for allergic reactions. These are the few scenarios of medical malpractices; the list of potential medical malpractice is huge and limitless. The situation worsens, if the victim does not know his legal rights, which is often the case, thus leading to failure of claim for any sort of compensation. Do not let that happen to you or any of your friends if you find yourself in any of the above mentioned situations. Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyers are at your service to guide you and get the best possible compensation for the damages incurred. Medical malpractice procedures are complicated and need thorough research, investigation and resources. The Chicago Illinois attorney you work with to file your medical malpractice claim will have an extensive impact on the results of your case. Contrary to popular belief, medical malpractice does not always occur due to the desire of quick money on the part of the physician and hospital administrator, at times it happens due to negligence of the hospital authorities. Almost all personal injury medical claims are very severe. Many a time victims hire personal injury lawyers to file a claim for personal injury, but finally come to the conclusion that the case qualifies as medical malpractice one-wherein the victim suffered due to a significant breach in precisely how a doctor, medical center or nurse has cared for a patient.

If you have been handled by a medical doctor or surgeon and have been injured as a result of them differing from approved health-related techniques, then you might have a very legitimate injuries claim. If you know of anybody who has passed away as a result of mishandling by a medical doctor or low quality care at a medical unit, you absolutely have a genuine claim. But it’s not as simple as it might sound; the process of filing a claim and receiving compensation is a very complex one. You need to retain the services of an expert personal injury attorney. Chicago injury Lawyer are very well trained in the laws of your specific state and know to what extent a medical professional can be made accountable.

What exactly constitutes medical malpractice in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, doctors must exercise their skills and take necessary care while performing their duties. If they fail in their duty and an injury results that causes damages, you can file a claim under the category of medical mal practice.

Who can help a medical malpractice victim?

Do not get confused by the difference in term, there is no specific medical malpractice lawyer; you have to get hold of a personal injury attorney if you want guidance in filing a claim for compensation on grounds of medical malpractice. The Chicago personal injury attorneys adopt a proven approach to malpractice case evaluations. The legal experts (including an on staff physician) will examine your medical record and process your case. The diligent, comprehensive approach gets results very good result. Going by statistics, more than 6,000 Chicago area personal injury clients have been helped out over the past 15 years. They will leverage huge resources to accomplish the maximum possible settlement or verdict for your personal injury case.

The Law Offices of Steven J. Malman & Associates have some of the most experienced medical malpractice attorneys in Illinois. To get a top notch lawyer to help with your Chicago medical malpractice case now, call 1-888-MALMAN LAW (1-888-625-6265) or e-mail Your consultation with them completely free, and you have no obligation to retain them. They also offer a comprehensive no fee guarantee to minimize your resource investment and maximize their motivation.