ADVANCE Perspective: HIM : employment

Relationship Issues

Cheryl McEvoy — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:33:00 GMT

Over the past month or so, I delved into labor laws and IRS regulations to untangle the confusion surrounding employment status-namely, what distinguishes employees from independent contractors. And, as many of you already know, it's not easy. All those...(read more)

What Makes You Tick? Part 2

Cheryl McEvoy — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:47:00 GMT

The ADVANCE team likes to be inquisitive (it's part of our job, ya know). Sure, we've met you at conferences, chatted you up on the phone, but we want to know what really goes on in that head of yours. Thus, we introduced "What Makes HIM Professionals...(read more)

Difficult Personalities: The Know-It-All

Cheryl McEvoy — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:56:00 GMT

We're back for the third installment of our "Difficult Personalities" series. So far, we've escaped the needy co-worker's grasp and busted the " ghost " employee's vanishing routine. This time, we'll scale the know-it-all's mental pedestal to get a better...(read more)

What a Difference a Year Makes

Cheryl McEvoy — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:51:00 GMT

Around this time last year, I was schlepping clothes, photos and a hodgepodge of kitchenware from my college house to my mom's place, an hour away. I was in that weird place between incredible relief that classes were over and immense grief as I said...(read more)

Rising Unemployment Threatens Medicaid Programs

Cheryl McEvoy — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:29:00 GMT

We all complain about health insurance, but oh how reassuring it is to tote an insurance card in your wallet.

I remember counting the days until my coverage kicked in; after graduating from college, I was promptly dropped from my parents' plan and was flying sans-security until I found employment with health benefits. For 3 months, I prayed I wouldn't catch anything worse than the common cold. I was cautious around stairs because--knowing my clumsy tendencies and poorly timed bouts of bad luck--I was convinced I would fall down and find myself footing the bill for a broken leg.

Somehow, I avoided injury and serious illness until that cheap piece of plastic with oh-so-much value came in the mail.

But I was only one person; I just had to worry about myself. Others aren't so lucky--they have children and spouses who depend on them for the security and support health coverage provides. And with unemployment rates rising, more and more people are struggling to get insured.

According to the New York Times, states are reporting record numbers of Medicaid enrollment-a lagging side effect of recent layoffs-and, quite frankly, state budgets can't afford it. State legislators are calling on the federal government for help, but they'll likely be forced to slash Medicaid costs to find any relief, which means cutting certain types of coverage like vision and dental.

Our health care system is rife with problems and, as the article notes, it's currently trapped in a vicious cycle, where Medicaid enrollment is rising at the same time tax revenue to support the program is plummeting. The proposed economic stimulus plan should provide some relief--at least on the job front if not by directly injecting funds into health care--but the effects won't be immediate.

What are HIM professionals' opinions on Medicaid? Have you seen a rise in Medicaid claims at your facility? Have you heard of any physicians dropping Medicaid patients?