Report Finds an Alarming Number of Chronically Ill Patients - Over 93 Percent - Reporting Medical Debt Crisis Issues in 2008 Have Some Form of Insurance
Posted on: Wednesday, 29 April 2009, 12:30 CDT
New trend findings of "underinsured" patients based on successful resolution of more than 48,000 cases by national, non-profit Patient Advocate Foundation in 2008
PAF is on the frontlines of the healthcare access battle millions of Americans fight every day. Last year alone, PAF received in excess of 9.5 million contacts from patients, family members and care professionals requesting information and assistance. PAF's professional senior patient navigators successfully managed 48,369 cases for patients that required direct, sustained mediation and arbitration services. Globally, more than sixty percent of all patients who contacted PAF in 2008 reported debt crisis issues as their primary concern. Ninety-three percent of these patients were insured through plans, but were still unable to obtain physician-prescribed healthcare despite coverage, reflecting an alarming trend of medical debt crisis issues in the nation's healthcare system. Nearly eighty percent of PAF patients are cancer patients. The remaining twenty percent have chronic diseases including diabetes, COPD, hepatitis, asthma and osteoporosis.
"Each year, PAF is able to help more Americans gain access to the healthcare services they need, but we continue to see thousands of patients and family members struggle with rejected insurance claims, citing denials based on pre-existing conditions. In 2008, we have seen a dramatic increase in job loss and unemployment, as well as a shifting of cost burdens such as accelerated co-payments to the patient, creating significant access issues for patients nationwide," said
PAF collects data from each patient case received throughout the year from PAF's professional senior patient navigators. In addition to providing analysis of national healthcare trends, the PDAR highlights PAF's 13-year history in resolving complex health insurance issues, such as benefit denials and appeals. Originally published in 1997, this data has been increasingly requested by lawmakers, MedPAC, congressional offices, academics and advocacy organizations. Since its inception in 1996, PAF has touched more than 30 million American lives.
"PAF proudly publishes the annual PDAR to provide an up-to-date snapshot of healthcare in America including vital healthcare and insurance trends that we hope can serve as a reference for healthcare policymakers and other stakeholders as they work to address the global healthcare crisis America now faces and reform the nation's healthcare system," added Davenport-Ennis.
For more information about Patient Advocate Foundation or to request a copy of the 2008 PDAR, please visit www.patientadvocate.org or call toll free (800) 532-5274.
Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability.
SOURCE Patient Advocate Foundation
Source: PR Newswire
Related Articles
- National Patient Safety Foundation Supports Mandatory Flu Vaccinations for Healthcare Workers
- Leaders in Health Literacy Recognized by the Partnership for Clear Health Communication at the National Patient Safety Foundation
- Healthcare Leaders to Address Patient Safety and Reform at the National Patient Safety Foundation Congress, Washington, DC, May 20-22
- Alliance for Patient Access Wants Health Care Code of Conduct
- Surgical Groups Form 'Operation Patient Access: Quality Surgical Care for All' to Call Attention to Escalating Workforce Shortage
- National Patient Advocate Foundation Hails Senator Rockefeller, Representative Schwartz for Introducing Preexisting Conditions Bill, Ensuring Patient Access to Health Coverage
- Healthcare Company Cymetrix(SM) Names New VP of Patient Access and Entitlement Solutions
- RTOG and US Oncology Partner to Increase Patient Access to Cancer Trials
- Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and US Oncology Enter Collaboration to Increase Patient Access to National Clinical Trials
- Patient Access Solutions Inc. New Symbol Issued
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds