Frequently asked questions.
Who benefits from the service of a healthcare advocate?
Anyone who requires direct medical care for a serious illness, major surgery or a life-threatening event can obtain assistance from an advocate.
What does a healthcare advocate DO?
A healthcare advocate has the ability to attend appointments, communicate with the care providers or answer questions you may have about the illness, expectations, and possible outcomes (positive or negative) from the recommended treatment.
Healthcare can also be needed for behavioral health issues such as a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, alcohol abuse or other chemical addiction. An advocate can direct you to care possibilities and assist in helping to understand the illness and how it can be treated, as well as what type of practitioners are suited to address the needs of the illness.
How receptive are doctors and others to having a healthcare advocate as part of the team?
The practitioners with whom I have worked are delighted to have someone involved that has some significant insight regarding health care. This helps to lessens the time for the doctor because the visits are more productive as the advocate is able to ask the needed questions and assists the patient in understanding the language, as well as frequently improving outcomes.
What happens during an appointment?
While advocating for you and ensuring your questions are answered, the role of a healthcare advocate is to ask relative questions to be able to give you the best insights into options to best equip you for decision making.
What are the qualifications of a healthcare advocate?
A healthcare advocate is an individual with extensive medical experience who is well versed in human anatomy and physiology and who has experience in the care and treatment of individuals with abnormalities in health.
My qualifications include: I have been in healthcare for fifty years with experience in hospital nursing as well as working with those who suffer from psychiatric illness. I also worked as a chiropractic physician for thirty-seven years.
Are the services of a healthcare advocate eligible for reimbursement from third party payers?
No. Fees for healthcare advocacy are charged directly to the client and are arranged on an individual basis. Rates are determined on a case-by-case basis and are based on the complexity of the service needed and ability to pay.
Does a healthcare advocate directly get involved in advising individuals relative to health insurance and medicare?
No, this is not within this specialty, but an advocate can direct you to those who can assist in determining who to navigate the healthcare system relative to financial reimbursement.