Who is Tom Price?
10 Things to know about HHS Secretary designate Tom Price By Medical Economics staff, November 29, 2016 Tom Price, MD, a Republican representative from Georgia, is poised to be nominated as the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to media reports. Here’s what physicians should know about Price. 10. He is a third generation physician, having served in private practice for nearly 20 years in Georgia as an orthopedic surgeon. He received his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Michigan and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at...
Read MoreToo many ER visits?
Too many ER visits? A new study shows millions of New Yorkers are overusing hospital emergency rooms and driving up everyone’s insurance premiums. Using data reported to the NYS Health Department, Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield estimates that out of the 6.4 million visits to hospital emergency rooms in New York State in 2013, two million of them were for preventable conditions that could and should have been treated by primary care physicians. In Monroe County alone, out of every 100 ER visits, 20-30 of them were not significant enough to warrant emergency services. “Many of the visits are...
Read MoreMinority Health Month
Taking care of yourself and your loved ones is the first step towards good health. That means reading up about how to stay well, learning common symptoms of possible health problems, staying up-to-date on the new health care law and knowing where to turn for help. This may sound like a lot. So that’s why we’ve compiled many easy-to-use resources all in one convenient place. Find common symptoms, causes and treatments for more than 900 health and wellness issues Find out about prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines Learn about anatomy, surgery, medical words and more:...
Read MoreFQHC Investigations
To FQHC and beyond? As some of you may know, His Branches Health Services (HBHS) is a Community Health Center (also called a “Diagnostic & Treatment Center” or “D&TC”) licensed by New York State to provide quality care to underserved individuals and families in Rochester. This designation enables our Board of Directors to oversee not only the character of the care we provide but its quality as well. Along with carrying out a number of quality assurance initiatives, including those mandated by ongoing Meaningful Use, Patient Centered Medical Home, and...
Read MoreBlue Choice Option
“It could force us out of business.” That’s what some doctors are now saying about the fact that Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield may soon drop certain Medicaid patients. A week ago, Excellus announced, beginning in January, that it will no longer offer certain Medicaid plans. That includes 85,000 people in the Rochester area. It’s all because Excellus is already looking at $100 million in losses for 2013 and says it can’t afford that. Local doctors say this is bad news for them. Patients who currently use the Blue Choice option for Medicaid will have to find another health...
Read MoreHealth Insurance Marketplace
