Helpful Thanksgiving ICD-10 Codes

As co-blogger Kelley last mentioned a couple of months ago, the "new and improved" ICD-10 codes are on the way (maybe). And just in time, too; the folks at Health Data Management have helpfully compiled a list of handy dandy ICD-10 codes specifically geared for Thanksgiving:

"Ah, the turkey is roasting and the potatoes are boiling. And Cousin Carl just chopped the end of his finger off while preparing the veggie tray."

Click through for the whole list.

And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

[Hat Tip: FoIB Dr Rob]

"I forgot"

It's hard to beat this Steve Martin excuse:

"You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. "Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?" First.. get a million dollars. Now.. you say, "Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, 'You.. have never paid taxes'?" Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!"

Funny, but what does this have to do with insurance?

Glad you asked.

The folks at LifeHealthPro have complied a list of the 5 best excuses one might use to duck the (Evil) Individual Mandate. Here's a sampling:

"I don't earn enough to even file a return."

"Missed it [the cut-off date] by that much!"

And this gem:

"I get my care from Drs Tonto and Geronimo."

Jake must be jealous.

Cavalcade of Risk #222: Gratefully risky

Van Mayhall hosts the pre-Thanksgiving round-up of risk-related posts. As usual,Van does a terrific job of tying together seemingly unrelated items, providing a fantastic narrative.

Thanks, Van!

Sprechen sie Deutsch?

More proposed Obamacare rules to improved the customer experience.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 21 issued a massive 324-page notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at improving the consumer experience in the health insurance marketplace by increasing pricing and plan transparency and making information more accessible to consumers, among other changes.

Key among the controversial proposals is the requirement that all exchanges, qualified health plan insurers, and Web-based brokers and agents provide telephonic interpreter services in at least 150 languages. That requirement does not extend to navigators and assisters, although HHS is asking for public comment on whether it should.

Insurance Broadcasting

Seriously?

Hunh: CCC's no more

Had a "d'oh!" moment when I received this in email:

"[G]eneration of HIPAA Certificates of Creditable Coverage (CoCC) upon member termination will no longer be necessary because the pre-existing condition limitations are fully eliminated in 2015."

Since 1997, group plans have had to issue Certificates of Creditable Coverage when a covered employee (and/or dependent) dropped off. They were essentially "hall passes" to the next group plan, so that one wasn't subject to pre-existing condition limitations.

[ed: Contrary to popular belief, they were of no avail when moving from group to individual plans - but were applicable when moving from individual to group. Clear as mud, no?]

These cert's have been part of the landscape for so long now that it just didn't occur to me that, once the ObamaTax is in full swing, they're no longer necessary.

Think I'll miss the little buggers.

Missing the Mark, MVNHS©-style

Last month, we questioned whether the Much Vaunted National Health System© was worth saving (assuming it could be, of course). Thanks to co-blogger Bob, we have more evidence supporting the "No" position:

"The NHS in England has repeatedly missed a key target for rapidly treating cancer patients ... Cancer charities said thousands of patients were being failed."

Of course, that pre-supposes that the actual goal was saving lives, not pounds sterling.

So how does that translate into real-world, real-people numbers?

Well:

"[O]f the 33,404 people who started cancer treatment between July and September, more than 5,500 were not treated within the 62 day target."

Depending on the3 type and stage of the cancer, that two months can very easily mean the difference between life and death, lumpectomy or double mastectomy. And it's not getting any better for our Cousins Across the Pond:

"These breaches have become a trend and they are worsening, which is why urgent action must be taken to support the NHS" according to Sarah Woolnough, from Cancer Research UK.

It's also worth noting that the shortage of radiologists, which has exacerbated the problem:

"Patients are waiting too long for imaging test results."

Coming soon to an ObamaPlan near you.

Blast from the Past

I first became a fan of Medical Savings Accounts (since evolved to Health Savings Accounts) way back in 1992, when they were first introduced by Golden Rule Insurance. GR's president at the time, Pat Rooney (whose family, if I recall correctly, founded the company), eventually left to found another carrier, Medical Savings Insurance Company (MSIC), which marketed MSA's exclusively.

In 2008, MSIC went into receivership to protect its over 6,000 policyholders. Having fallen on hard times, the company faced substantial financial hurdles. On the bright side (and in a bit of irony), policyholders were transferred to Golden Rule.

Reason I bring this up is that I had written a couple cases with MSIC back in the day, and over the weekend I received a "Notice of Hearing" for final liquidation of the firm's assets.

Or not:

"[T]he Liquidator reports that all assets and/or property ... have now been recovered ... does not have sufficent assets ... no MSIC assets are available for payment."

Shorter: if you think MSIC owed you anything, don't count on it.

The better, more positive lesson for me, though, is that this doesn't affect policyholders: the system worked, and they weren't left holding the bag.

Well, at least not by the Indiana Department of Insurance.