Friday, August 29, 2008

Balance Billing: Medical Bills You Should NOT Pay

Business Week has an article regarding health care providers billing patients for the difference between what the insurers pay and what the insurers are billed. This is a common practice and those of us with UK HMO who have used our insurance at regional providers have had that experience. The first time it happened to me several years ago, I started to pay the bill which was quite abit of money. I decided to care the company managing the payments for UK and discovered that I didn't owe the money. While I was on the phone, the representative called the hospital and in just a few moments returned and let me know I would not be billed anymore. One company was sued by an insurer in New Jersey because they used this practice with policyholders. In many cases it is against the law to balance bill patients. Medicare or HMO's are examples. You will want to read this article. During these times of economic distress, Kentuckians do not need to pay more than they owe.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Kentucky Extension Professionals Use Oral Health Partnership to Educate Communities

This month's Journal of Extension (JOE) features an article written by Sharlee Shirley, former HEEL Specialist. Sharly's article concludes the following: "Over 6,500 Kentuckians have participated in the Oral Health Wellness and Disease Prevention Program, with the majority of those being children ages 10 -12. Unique partnerships have been developed between Cooperative Extension and local agencies such as schools, head start programs, local health departments, family resource centers, and daycare facilities. Also, provider-based partnerships have been initiated, like Cooperative Extension agents working in tandem with local dental professionals to conduct oral cancer screenings and oral health educational workshops. Cooperative Extension has used the Oral Health Wellness and Disease Prevention Program to build community capacity to address the oral health educational needs of its citizens." Access JOE for more information about Extension work.

Friday, August 22, 2008

HEEL Staff now in Erikson 107-108

The Health Education through Extension Leadership Staff would like to announce that we are now in our newly remodeled office suite in 107 and 108 Erikson Hall. As you enter the main entrance of Erikson, we are the first office on your right.