I only hope it is clear to Washington that the derailment of that expensive train was avoidable if the giddy cheerleaders had just once looked up from their LCD screens and noticed the bridge was out. So far, nobody has paid attention to the needs of the dentists who are ordered to use a records system that is worse than worthless. Now the military is back to where it was in 2007- patching make-do systems together as best they can. I don’t like to complain about our military, but I have to say that this is a shameful mess caused by boneheads.

We can only hope our military HIT geniuses learned something this time.

When will digital dental records start saving Americans money for dental care like ADA leaders promise?

D. Kellus Pruitt; DDS

I just found this Chicago Public Radio [CPR] audiocast on CPT® codes.
If you can spare some time, do yourself a favor by listening to it on NPR’s extraordinary show, This American Life.

http://audio.thisamericanlife.org/player/CPRadio_player.php?podcast=http://www.thisamericanlife.org/xmlfeeds/392.xml&proxyloc=http://audio.thisamericanlife.org/player/customproxy.php

Enjoy.
Ann

http://www.thehealthcareblog.com/the_health_care_blog/2009/11/interview-with-james-currier-medpedia.html#comments

Miller

Did you know that the Military Health System and the armed services are considering halting the continued deployment of the official MHS dental electronic record and replacing it with an Army-developed tool?

Check out this new report:
http://www.govhealthit.com/newsitem.aspx?nid=72474

Carmine

“No medical student wants to just “pass”. They want to achieve a high class ranking so they are not relegated to some primary care residency facing a life of long hours, low pay, high hassle, low satisfaction.”

Source: Quoted from the blog-o-sphere.
Shaye

* Newer isn’t always better.
* More isn’t always better.
* Screening doesn’t make sense for everyone.
* Many screening tests do good; many also do harm.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/which-cancer-screening-tests-are-really.html

Thanks for advocating same on this ME-P forum. The key words is “appropriate” – a nebulous concept for many who disdain ambiguity and require a level of false certainty.

Betty

In instances where no third-party appraisal has been performed, hospitals have been accused of over-paying for physician practices in exchange for future referrals.

Brian J. Knabe; MD

It could be a mistake to let this marketing opportunity slip by and spout legs of its own, Mr. Wilson.

D. Kellus Pruitt; DDS

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34019606/ns/health-health_care

Kate

Please carry on the good work – the more individuals know the better they’ll be equipped to cope with the tax man, and that’s what it’s all about.

Antonia Dennis

From my humble platform, it seems like the breach report relayed by Ann is the first trickle of a predictable avalanche of bad news that will sweep away podiatrists in Connecticut within 60 days – when their once-trusting patients have to be notified. I could be wrong, but I think ARRA/HIPAA/Red Flags/HITECH is functioning exactly like naïve slow-thinking bureaucrats designed them to.

I am happy for podiatrist Dr. Robert Crovo of Torrington, Connecticut who was quoted in Alex Taylor’s article about insurance company Healthnet’s breach of PHI. Dr. Crovo’s patients’ records were fortunately not part of the breach. But what happens to the other podiatrists across the state who treated the 440,000 Connecticut patients whose identities are now at risk? I am sincere when I say I am praying first of all for those who live in Connecticut who suffer from painful, chronic foot problems whether their identities were among those fumbled or not. This one clumsy incident will increase the cost of foot care in Connecticut by making it less available. Way to go, Healthnet.

But then all breaches must be reported. Ethically, patient notification is the only choice a doctor has. And if self-reporting and the resultant bankruptcy is too steep for a doctor’s level of ethics, Sen. Leahy has a pending bill that would make hiding a breach punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Is there a way out of this mess? Yes, but we must be patient. Ultimately, following some avoidable chaos, someone who is idea-approved will think up an idea that will be called “de-identification” and the nation’s data breach threat will be all but eliminated. Bureaucrats just need more time to think than most people for natural reasons.

D. Kellus Pruitt; DDS

Please see the attached as our second request to facilitate our Allstate hotel policy provisions.

Also, note that our land-line integrity is still sporadic since the claims incident. Two engineers suggested a complete electrical check with fix. And, the phone company again attempted same every day for a week recently, also citing internal difficulties.

Therefore, our preferred method of communication is by email, in-as-much as our separate cable line works fine. And, it is difficult to hear our rarely used cell phones.

Many thanks again for facilitating our policy provisions.

Hope

###

From: Horsley, Ronnie (Ronnie.Wallace@Allstate.com)
Sent: Sun 11/22/09 9:08 AM
To: iMBA Inc offices (marcinkoadvisors@msn.com)

I am out of the office until 11/30. I will respond as needed when I return.

###

From: McGinn, Mary (Law Dept.) (Mary.McGinn@allstate.com)
Sent: Sun 11/22/09 9:08 AM
To: iMBA Inc offices (marcinkoadvisors@msn.com)

I will be out of the office Friday afternoon, November 20 through Friday, November 27, but will be checking e-mails when possible. I will be checking voicemail at 847- 402-6146, but on an infrequent basis. If you would like more prompt assistance while I am out, please contact Yvette Pilko at 847-402-4550 or Denise Lewandowski at 847-402-7735 who will be able to assist you or call my cell phone – 847-778-7396

###

These Allstate folks do not seem very responsive, do they? OR, it is me?
Hope

Hope, after reading your posts, it appears that Allstate may be full of hypocrisy!
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2832413720090528

But, don’t hold your breath for the debate

Jed

I am sorry for your loss. But, there are other credible insurance providers hungry for your business. Check out their payout ratios, credit ratings and interview several agents. And, be sure to get multiple quotes with a higher deductible before you commit to any policy. It could save you money on your policy and the aggravation you are now experiencing.

Lara T. Stern.