Category Archives: Privacy

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Helpful Health Care Links: November 21, 2014

Insurance Or Assurance ConceptThis week, our helpful health care links focus on a variety of topics- a breakdown of what you need to know when signing up for ObamaCare this Open Enrollment period. We also included an eye-opening article from NPR discussing the level of privacy your smart phone apps provide you. All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

Obamacare Open Enrollment Period: What You Need to Know

The second annual enrollment period for health plans through federal and state exchanges has started. If you need to buy health insurance or make changes to your current plan, you have until Feb. 15 to get it done.

Metro Detroit Employers Projected to Save in 2015 with Lower-Cost, High-Deductible Health Plans

Southeast Michigan’s total health benefit costs for active employees are projected to increase only 2.9 percent in 2015 as employers continue to make changes in benefit plans, primarily going to lower-cost, high-deductible plans.

How Well Do Your Apps Protect Your Privacy?

PrivacyGrade is a site for people to figure out what information their apps might be collecting. You’ll be surprised how much personall information is tracked by your phone activity.

New ‘Hutch’ Director Aims to Push Toward Cancer Cures Based on The Immune System

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle is announcing that it has hired former Merck cancer research boss Gary Gilliland as its next director.

As California Expands Medicaid to New Beneficiaries, Many Others Are Dropped

Even as the state celebrates its enrollment of more than 2.7 million low-income Californians in Medi-Cal in 2014, it may drop an unusually high number of beneficiaries from its rolls by year’s end.

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Healthcare has changed radically. Gone are the days when the only medical professional a patient saw was their trusted local doctor. MyHealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: Healthcare Privacy walks you through the practical steps you can take to safeguard your healthcare privacy as a patient.

Available for download NOW!

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How Do You Gain Access To Your Loved One’s Medical Information?: VIDEO

It’s senior week here at MyHealthSpin! More and more people are caring for an elderly family member in addition to their own immediate family. How do you ensure that your loved one’s medical records are handled correctly? Do you know if you have access to the proper medical information for your loved ones? MyHealthSpin Founder, Lori-Ann Rickard explains in this video why the most important action you can take as a caregiver is to make sure that it is designated in writing to whom a doctor or facility can provide specific medical information.

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HS-Book_Covers_OCaresmallAre you looking to cut through all the noise and find out what ObamaCare really is, what it does, and, most importantly, what it means to you? MyHealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: ObamaCare” ebook guide leaves the politics behind and gives you a straightforward, timely rundown of the changes the law made and whether or not they impact YOU.

Available for download NOW!

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Do You Have Rights to Your Senior’s Medical Records?

The short answer is “no” in most cases.  To get that vital information you have to work up front with your loved one before you ever go to the doctor’s office.shutterstock_106616390

Few things in healthcare are as frustrating as having an aging parent with health issues and not be able to see their medical records.  Whether  you are a family member caring for a senior or  or senior yourself who wants to make sure  your potential caregiver can have the information they need,  you should know how to get or give permission to view medical records.

First, your loved one always has the right to designate who they want to have access to their medical records.  When a senior goes to a doctor or hospital, they should specifically ask to fill out a a form saying who should get access to their health records.  The senior’s spouse or children will not necessarily have access without the authorization.

Second, a doctor is allowed to give information to a spouse or family member if he or she is present during a doctor’s visit or a hospital stay.  If the senior has a family member come with them to the doctor, the doctor can assume that the senior wants the family member to have access to the senior’s medical information unless the senior states otherwise.

Third, a senior should have a “Living Will.”  Also called a “Healthcare Declaration,” this  legal document, which varies in different states, will allow the person named in it to make decisions about the patient’s healthcare if they are unable to make decisions themselves.  A Living Will  is fairly simple to fill out.  Often, seniors want to list all of their children, so they can make a joint decision.  This is unwise.  When a loved one is seriously ill, it will be very hard to get a single decision from every family member, each of whom may be scattered all over the country or world.  It’s better to name one person and ask them to talk to the whole family before making the final decision according to the wishes of the patient.

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assisted_smallHow do you make the right decision about moving yourself or a loved one into an Assisted Living Facility without being overwhelmed? How do you even begin talking about it? MyHealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: Choosing an Assisted Living Facility” ebook guide gives you all of the practical advice you need to make the right choice.

Available for download NOW!