blogger – Page 3 – Health Michael Jordan

Author: blogger

30
Jan
2019

Diversify Home Health, Home Care And Hospice Services To Secure Your Agencys Financial Future

categories: Health

Have you ever heard the advice to not put all your eggs in one basket? Well the advice is good, especially if you are a Home Health, Home Care or Hospice agency. Putting all your eggs in one basket in the Home Health, Home Care or Hospice industry means having only one line of business. In todays environment, one line of business is a dangerous path to walk. Already we have seen repeated cuts to the Home Health reimbursement formula, and Hospice is under scrutiny and will probably see some rather dramatic cuts in the future. Some Home Care (Private Pay) agencies are seeing a decline in both clients and hours, as well. Just as the chant location, location, location is cited for a business success, diversification is the same for agencies in the Home Health, Home Care and Hospice industry.

As a Home Health or Hospice agency, you may be asking how you can diversify. You already take private insurance, much of which doesnt even cover your expenses. Where can you diversify?

Years ago, many Home Health agencies invested in private duty services. Unfortunately, many of them tried to run these agencies the same way they ran the Medicare-Certified agencies. This turned out to be a less than a financial success for them and, as a result, most of the agencies closed their Private Pay agencies or sold them. I was one of those administrators running both types of agencies. Fortunately, the corporation that owned the agency I managed understood the differences required to successfully operate these two very distinct businesses. As a result, the internal structures and systems for Private Pay were run with entirely different staff and procedures. Fortunately, the Private Pay agency was a financial success and a great partner for the Medicare business.

In todays environment, it may be wise for Medicare agencies to look again at the Private Pay industry and invest in another line of business that will not be subject to the changes of CMS. This holds true for both Medicare Home Health and the Hospice agencies. The opportunities in a Private Pay agency are endless. The services offered are as open and vast as the community served will support. By using the lessons learned from the previous attempts to diversify into Private Pay, the new line of business makes the difference between surviving and thriving.

For Private Pay (Home Care) agencies, diversification is just as important. By having only one or two lines of business, you will very likely have some down times with loss of revenues. Diversification of services helps to diminish the effects of the decline on your personal care or live-in services. There are so many opportunities in the Private Pay arena, it really is a matter of finding out what your marketplace will support and then developing it in such a manner that your customers will see value and buy.

Over the years I have seen some very creative and innovative Private Pay agency owners create truly unique services that were well received by their communities. One agency had a very viable service line in cruise companions. They had a high end senior population that were used to cruises, but because of declines in health and abilities, many of the seniors could no longer travel. The agency developed a contract with a major cruise line where they provided the personal care workers or aides that accompanied the senior on the cruise. The client paid for all the related cruise expenses as well as the daily live-in rate for the aide. Reportedly a great time was had by all.

Another agency developed a Mom and Babe program that catered to the large number of young, educated families in their geographic area. The program retained the services of an OB-GYN RN, who made the first visit to the home the day after the mother was discharged from the hospital. The aide, who was a trained doula, also accompanied the RN on the first visit. The services were bundled into either 5- or 7-day, 12 hour/day packages that included the RN visit and the 5 or 7 days of the specialty aide. The aide not only cared for the mother and baby, but tended to the home and other children, allowing the new mother and baby to have bonding time. The aide planned and cooked the meals and did the laundry and light housekeeping so that the mother could rest. The program, as mentioned, was sold as a package and made great shower gifts. The aide was available on an hourly rate to continue services beyond the package if the family wished, or her services could be bought by the family directly for however long they were needed.

As you can see, there is no limit to what your agency can provide. With appropriate due diligence and an ability to listen to what your community is seeking and willing to pay for, you can do anything. If youre ready to plan a more secure financial future for your agency, contact us today to discuss the many diverse opportunities that are awaiting you.

24
Jan
2019

E Cig Health Risks

categories: Health

Used to an increasing degree over not simply the United States but the entire world, e-cigarettes represent an incredibly fast growing and popular new technology. While on the outside e-cigarettes seem completely safe there is a troubling element to their growth, and that’s the fact no one really knows much about them or what the long-term health implications over smoking them is.

It’s up to each individual to decide what level of risk they’re willing to take on in their life and with the habits they adopt. Still, that doesn’t mean you should start (or continue) to smoke e-cigarettes without having some idea what problems they could potentially cause you.

The Only Real Long-Term Health Risk

There is only one health risk associated with e-cigarettes which we’re absolutely aware of and that’s the fact we are largely ignorant over them. The biggest health risk surrounding e-cigarettes is their uncertainty. They could produce lots of health risks which we aren’t aware of and which won’t come to light for another decade.

On the other hand they may also be completely safe. Consider the example of lazik eye treatments. This form of vision correction met a similar level of public hostility and alarm when it first arrived on the market. People came up with all sorts of horror stories over what lazik treatments could potentially do.

-some people felt lazik treatments would initially work and then your eyes would revert to their initial state very quickly

-some people thought lazik treatments would cause serious problems for the first few weeks after treatment and then not even improve vision

-some people predicted lazik treatments would cause blindness after a few years

So what happened with all those early adopters of lazik, not to mention the millions of other people who have gotten it more recently? Nothing bad. A few people had a bad experience or two but overall the vast, overwhelming majority of people who have gotten lazik received massive vision benefits which lasted. Additionally the treatment itself has improved over the years and become faster, more effective and safer.

It’s easy to think up horror stories for e-cigarettes but chances are most of these concerns are unfounded and won’t stand up to scrutiny over time. Similar to lazik, e-cigarette technology will also improve over the years and minimize any problems which may pop up with their first couple years on the market.

We can speculate endlessly over the health risks surrounding e-cigarettes but at the end of the day the only real risk is using a device whose long-term effects are unknown. Like most new medical technologies there’s a good chance e-cigarettes have no negative long term health effects. Chances are e-cigarettes, like lazik, will prove over time to be harmless.

20
Jan
2019

What Are The Health Dangers Of Water Pollution

categories: Health

Effect of Water Pollution on Health and Prevention

Currently human survival and all wild life species are facing a big problem of Water pollution. The problem of water pollution not only is serious for present day but it is becoming worse day by day. Pollution in water gets transported by means of seas and rivers to various cities. Extremely growing industrial segment is very much responsible for polluting the water. Industries are polluting both drinking water as well as they are spreading pollution in air and water also. Huge population of our country which is increasing day by day is also a major cause for water pollution.

More population causes higher water pollution and more health problems and deaths. There are various effects of water pollution in today’s world. Water pollution is affecting not only the outer environment, but also the existence of all living beings. It is affecting each organism of the ecosystem. Ecosystems’ food chain is affected severely by water pollution effects. Water pollution is affecting the health problems in a great ways. Various diseases are spread with the polluted water. Some common diseases are cholera & food poisoning.These are the starting stage of effects of water pollution. These diseases can be caught by any person very much easily. Acidic liquid & chemicals rain is one more reason and water pollution effects. Information regarding water pollution needs to be circulated to every citizen. Chemicals in drinking water cause health problems and leads to diseases like These can be prevented by taking proper methods at household level also. Groundwater and surface water are infected with heavy metals, organic pollutants and nutrients which have an unfavorable influence on health. Inadequate and unskilled organization of water assets is the cause of Water-borne diseases and health problems.

These infectious Water-borne diseases spread by use of infected water. Contact to polluted water is the reason of diseases like diarrhoea, skin irritation, and respiratory problems. Disease depends on the pollutant within the water body. Sluggish water & untreated water offer a home for the mosquito & several other parasites & insects causing a huge number of diseases. Malaria is certainly the most extensively spread. Most of the intestinal diseases are infectious & are spread through impure drinking water. Pathogens like – virus, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms spread by water sources & goes directly to persons handling food and water.

These all diseases are infectious and extreme care is to taken while dealing with a patient. Other water borne diseases are Hepatitis, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. These water pollution effects are seen mostly in the tropical areas. Various chemical spread through naturally or by human activity cause dissolving of chemicals in water and thus diseases. The organophosphates & the carbonates pesticides influence & hurt the nervous system, they even cause cancer. Few pesticides have carcinogens with exceeding limit of recommended levels. Lead is build up in the body and harm the central nervous system with children & pregnant women are highly on risk. Proper education and management is required to be done to avoid water pollution and save the ecosystem.

16
Jan
2019

Demand for High-End Health Care on the Rise in China

categories: Health

The original health care system cannot meet the demands of the wealthy market. This is an opportunity for investment, especially as the government is now encouraging and promoting the development of high-end health care” – Ministry of Health Medical Services Regulatory Secretary Chen John Jiu, July 2012

China is home to the 4th largest number of millionaires in the world and Beijing is home to the greatest number of wealthy people in China, including 179,000 millionaires and 10,500 people considered super-rich. Those with higher incomes, thanks to a rich diet, urban living, and less reliance on manual labor or exercise, often suffer from a higher incidence of chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, liver disease, respiratory illness, diabetes and stress. These people are increasingly concerned about their health and finding access to health care services that meets their needs.

INVESTMENT & IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH CARE
On June 3 2012 Research Institute Fortune issued a white paper titled “China Wealth Health” stating that although wealthy Chinese are paying more attention to their health about 68% of them are suffering from sub-health conditions. The paper concludes that there are over 30 million individuals of high net worth and emerging wealth in need of improved medical services.

Director of the Chinese Doctor Association, Yin Dakui says, “Most people want to be able to enjoy better medical services. Chinese and foreign capital investors are coming together to meet the needs of the population with a higher standard of medical care.”

To help meet this demand, in November 2012 the international company WA Optimum Health Care established their new specialty health care facility in Beijings Fragrant Mountain National Park. Their Chairman, Dr Shu Li, Harvard PhD comments “The location, architecture, quality of medical care and standard of service were all designed with the needs of patients in mind. Privacy, discretion and excellent follow-up care are crucial. Of course the most important factor is the level of personal medical attention given to each patient, which is why we have invested in bringing the best doctors from within China and around the world here.”

With a flagship center already operating in Shanghai for over 2 years, the international management and medical teams of WA Optimum Health Care are very familiar with the realities of meeting the demands of the market as well as navigating the regulations and licensing issues that have historically challenged other international health care providers that have tried to enter Chinese market. WA Optimum Health Care Vice Chairman Derek Muhs said, “With the implementation of recent health care reforms in China, we are pleased to be one of the first foreign companies providing a gold standard of health care services in this market. The growth opportunities over the next 5 years in the health care sector in China are very exciting.”

The WA Center in Beijing is a multi-discipline medical center of excellence specializing in the treatment and prevention of serious chronic conditions such as infertility, diabetes, liver disease, joint degeneration, chronic pain and sexual dysfunction, among others. There is also an advanced cosmetic medicine department that offers rejuvenation and cosmetic improvements performed by leading cosmetic surgeons from Switzerland, USA, South Korea and China.

At the WA Beijing private opening event Mr Wang, President of the “China Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration Association” presented WA with a plaque endorsing them as a “China Clinical Research Center for Functional Anti-Aging Regenerative Medicine”.

Countless Chinese people go abroad annually for health care services, especially for anti-aging and cosmetic treatments, cancer screening, to give birth and to get treatment for chronic diseases. But with the governments health reform and support for private health care facilities, more and more Chinese are opting to stay home, where they can now have an international standard of health care in their own language and essential follow-up maintenance program with their personal doctor.

According to a September 2012 report by McKinsey & Company, Chinas health care spending is projected to grow from $357 billion in 2011 to $1 trillion in 2020. China remains one of the worlds most attractive markets, and is by far the fastest growing of all the large emerging markets.

Mr Muhs, quoted earlier, disclosed “We are looking closely at some exciting new opportunities for expansion and acquisition in the health care sector in China. With our 3-5 year IPO on the horizon this will be a very strategic expansion so as not to compromise the medical service that the market is demanding, and that we envision is the future of a new standard of health care in China.”

11
Jan
2019

Health Benefit Options For Freelancers And Independent Consultants

categories: Health

Freelance workers, independent consultants and independent contractors enjoy many advantages. Their schedules are flexible, they set their own agenda, and with a little planning, they can take extended time off. However, while these benefits can improve quality of life, there are other benefits that these workers do not receive, such as health insurance. Finding health insurance as a freelancer or independent consultant is one of the most challenging aspects of being a sole proprietor. A variety of insurance options are available to these workers, however finding a plan that the worker qualifies for and can afford is the difficult part. Of the many choices in insurance available, independent contractors and independent consultants may be surprised once they start shopping that some are unavailable to them, some are too expensive, and others offer poor or unnecessary coverage. By the time these workers narrow down the choices to the affordable insurers that will accept them, the list may be very short indeed.

Group Insurance

Group insurance coverage is undoubtedly the best insurance plan overall. In a group plan there is no need to qualify, no medical exams, no health questions to answer and the rates are the same for everyone and do not raise with claims. That being said, if you are self-employed, group health insurance is very difficult to find. Group health insurance is typically provided by employers, and, since an independent contractor works for themselves, there is no employer. If your spouse is employed, you have recently been employed and qualify for COBRA, or you can get your employment covered under an umbrella company, it may be possible to receive group coverage. If you can qualify for group insurance, you will probably find it to be the most affordable and most inclusive of the insurance options that you find.

Insurance through an Association or Chamber of Commerce

In their effort to ease the financial hardships for sole proprietors, many professional organizations and local chambers of commerce offer insurance to their members. These policies are not true group policies, but pooled risk policies. A pooled risk policy can still be affordable, particularly if you are young, have no serious medical conditions, and have low risk of an accident. Because you generally receive an individual insurance premium rate, members with pre-existing conditions or those in poor health may find that they pay a higher rate. Also, unlike in a group plan, your rate can, and will, change as a result of claims. Even those in good health that are in a pooled risk policy will usually pay more for coverage than someone with group coverage, but, overall, the insurance choices provided by professional organizations can be a good choice for self-employed workers.

Coverage through the State

Some states offer medical insurance benefits programs. In many cases, health insurance that is offered through your state is not a great choice. While each state offers its own plan and they vary widely, a state plan does not typically cover the full spectrum of preventative care and may be very limited with regard to prescription coverage. Coverage through the state is sometimes called catastrophic coverage, intended to prevent financial ruin if a self employed worker becomes seriously ill or injured. State coverage may also have income limits (intended for lower income individuals) or other qualifying factors. State coverage can be an option to explore, but you should also make sure that you have money in your savings to cover routine preventative office visits, the cost of medications, and reserve funds in case you need to come up with partial payments for something more serious.

Individual Coverage

Buying an insurance plan directly from the insurance company is an expensive way to get health coverage. If you have pre-existing conditions or are in poor health it may be impossible to find a company that will cover you affordably. Individual coverage is typically the last choice for independent contractors and freelancers because of the expense, the limits, and the aggravation of attempting to secure this type of coverage.

Getting the Coverage That You Want

Group health insurance is, hands down, the best all-around choice. Qualifying for a group plan as a self employed individual can be tricky, but there are ways to do it. The benefit is affordable coverage and the knowledge that you can protect your health and wellbeing affordably. If you cannot qualify for group insurance through your spouse or COBRA, and you are working as an independent consultant or freelancer, your best choice may be to get benefits coverage through employment by an umbrella company or “employer of record”. An umbrella company often offers benefits to their employees, such as insurance. The work you perform is not for the umbrella company however, it is for your existing clients. The umbrella company invoices the clients, and pays you. This allows your client to be free of maintaining your paperwork, while allowing you to receive benefits from the umbrella company.

Umbrella firms commonly employ only “white collar” professionals, so if you are an independent contractor in trucking, construction, or other more labor-oriented industries, then an umbrella firm may not be right for you. Also, it is important to ask many questions about the insurance and benefits provided by any umbrella firm. Many umbrella firms offer complete insurance packages that include health, life and disability coverage with a true group program. Other firms offer “group discount” health plans that may not be truly corporate group health. Find out who the insurance company is, and ask lots of questions to be sure – if you can get a cost estimate of the insurance premiums right away, then that can indicate a real group program, as everyone in a group program will have the same rates. If you have to give personal health information such as age or health conditions to get a rate quote, then chances are, the plan is not truly a group plan. While getting benefits through an umbrella firm is a good deal for many individuals who are a good fit for that kind of program, for those who only want health insurance, it may not be the best choice because these companies are not only providing health benefits, but a full suite of employer of record services.

For any independent consultant or freelancer, it is important to protect your physical and financial well being by having solid health insurance coverage. Even a short amount of time away from work due to an unforeseen health problem could be very damaging to a “company of one” – not to mention sky high medical costs if youre uninsured and the unthinkable happens. If youre working solo, make sure you have great coverage. Shop around, ask questions, and compare your options. Always look for a true corporate group health plan, – whether through a spouse, through COBRA coverage, or through an employer of record, as this is the safest and most stable option for great benefits protection.