Written on 10:43 PM by Mohammad Jawad
MANAGING YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES
Written on 8:23 AM by Mohammad Jawad
The volume of paperwork involved in managing insurance claim forms, co-pays, benefits statements, etc., can be overwhelming for a mesothelioma patient who is trying to concentrate on their health care, but by keeping organized, accurate records, you can eliminate unnecessary stress.
Perhaps the simplest way of keeping information to be referred to when filing an insurance claim, is to use a paper calendar to make note of all doctor's appointments, lab tests, procedures and treatments, as well as prescription drugs purchased. If this information is recorded on the day it occurs, you will have a complete chronological record when you need it. Other records you should organize in an expandable folder or binder include:
- Bills from all health care providers.
- Bills or receipts for prescription drugs.
- Receipts from co-pays or other health care related costs.
- Insurance claims filed.
- Reimbursements received.
Keeping medical expenses entered on a basic computer spreadsheet is another option, or, there is specialized software available for those who prefer a better display of information and the ability to search for and sort information. One of these programs is the "Medical Expense Manager" offered by Quicken. This program will allow you to track and organize medical expenses, tax deductions, medical and prescription history for multiple individuals, insurance payments and deductibles and billing or claims disputes.
Another alternative is to hire someone to manage your claims for you, and if you feel you need professional help, there are health insurance claims assistance services available in many areas. These professionals can file and track claims, contact health care providers and insurance companies to resolve claim issues, review medical bills for accuracy and appeal rejected claims. Fees for services rendered can vary significantly according to provider.
For those with Medicare coverage, a health insurance assistance program is available in every state. Counselors can help Medicare recipients understand their benefits, and can make suggestions on establishing a record keeping system.
all the above information is obtained from the following link.
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/managingexpenses.htm
MANAGING YOUR MEDICATIONS
Written on 8:12 AM by Mohammad Jawad
Before you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have been taking a small number of medications, or perhaps, none at all. Now, it is possible you have been prescribed several different drugs, and you may be taking over-the-counter medications as well. With the added stress of disease or treatment-related symptoms, it can be easy to confuse medications or simply to inadvertently miss taking a dose. Following are some easy ways to help organize and manage your medications:
- Compile a complete list of all drugs you are taking, including both their brand and generic names (i.e., Tylenol = acetaminophen), the dosage amount, times they are to be taken and any additional instructions (i.e., take with food, take before bedtime, etc.). This list should include both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as any herbal supplements or vitamins you may be taking.
- When a new medication is prescribed, find out the name of the drug, how and when it should be taken, whether there can be any interactions with other medications, foods or beverages, what side effects are possible and what to do if you miss a dose. Write down this information and include it on your list.
- If possible, purchase all medications from the same pharmacy so that the records of what you purchased will be all in one place. Keep the patient information that is attached to prescriptions in case you need to refer to it later.
- If you need help organizing dosage schedules or have questions about medications you are taking, talk to your doctor, physician's assistant, nurse or pharmacist.
- Read and keep package inserts that come with your prescription medicine. This is not highly technical material or useless boilerplate wording. It is directly relevant to your experience with the medicine. More on package inserts.
- Read the label on the drug container before you taking any medication. If you are confused or can't read the label, have someone else read it to be sure you are taking the right medication.
- Do not skip scheduled doses. If you are taking medications for pain, they need to be taken as directed to be effective. If you have breakthrough pain between doses, follow your doctor's recommendations.
- If you don't feel confident that you will remember to take your medication on schedule, set an alarm on your clock, watch, cell phone or computer.
- Store medications in a safe place away from heat, light and humidity.
There are pill cases with compartments, organized by time of day, that may be helpful, and dose tracker devices such as 'Dose Dial' that will attach to any container, and can monitor the number of doses and/or the interval of doses.
Medications can play a significant role in how well you feel and can enhance, or in some cases, lessen your quality of life. Always follow directions when taking any medication, and if you have questions, concerns or are experiencing undesirable side effects you feel may be related to the drugs, speak frankly with a member of your health care team.
all the above information is obtained from the following link.
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/managemedications.htm
KEEPING A PERSONAL MEDICAL RECORDS FILE
Written on 6:42 AM by Mohammad Jawad
When you or a family member is going through the diagnostic process, or are being treated for mesothelioma, it is an undeniable fact that there will be a multitude of paperwork and reports involved. Although each individual medical professional or facility will keep its own record of your care, it is also important that you maintain an accurate, up to date medical history of your own.
It is likely that several different doctors, possibly at various locations, will be involved in your care, and each will generate a series of test results, treatment reports, scripts for medications, etc. By consolidating and organizing this information in one file, you will always have access to what you need if questions arise, or if a report is lost or inadvertently destroyed. It will also give you an opportunity to go over your records in your own time, and make note of any questions or concerns you might have. In this way, you will become a more active participant in your health care, and will feel more knowledgeable and in control of your situation. Keeping a personal medical file is also helpful in managing your health insurance claims, taxes and other legal matters.
Your personal medical record file should include the following:
- Information on past medical history, including the dates and details of any previously diagnosed illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease.
- Information on past physical examinations and screening tests.
- Immunization records.
- Contact information for all doctors, clinics and/or hospitals involved in your diagnosis, treatment or other care.
- Dates of initial diagnosis and a schedule for subsequent treatments.
- Copies of reports and diagnostic tests, including laboratory results, pathology reports and imaging tests (x-ray, CT, MRI, PET).
- Treatment information including surgical reports, names and dosages of drugs used for chemotherapy and sites and dosages for radiation therapy.
- Notes on treatment results including any complications or side effects experienced.
- Information on supportive care such as pain management or nutritional support. All medications you are taking, including prescription and over the counter drugs, should be listed by name, dosage and how often they are taken.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is best to collect information for your file each time you have an appointment, test or procedure. At each doctor appointment, ask for any records being added to your file, and if you have a laboratory test or a procedure of any kind, request a copy of the test results or the procedure report. If you are hospitalized for any reason, request a complete copy of your hospitalization records when you are released. Keep copies of medical bills and insurance claims.
How you organize your file is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer a filing cabinet, while others prefer a folder, binder or box; some prefer to scan documents into a computer file. Records can be divided according to date or by category such as appointments, tests or treatments. However you choose to compile your file, be sure it is stored in a safe place. You may wish to leave an additional copy with a relative or friend in case of emergency.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 2003 assures that all patients have access to their medical records, so if you did not start a medical file when you were first diagnosed or treated, you can still obtain the information you need. In this case, it may be necessary to request your records in writing, and you may need to complete an "Authorization to Release Medical Information". Unfortunately, requesting records after the fact can take time, and you may be charged copying fees.
Related: Managing your medications.
Related: Wallet Card Disaster Response Program
all the above information is obtained from the following link.
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/personalrecords.htm
ASBESTOS CANCER STRIKES VETERANS
Written on 6:28 AM by Mohammad Jawad
Many Navy retirees are now being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases caused by exposure which occurred while serving aboard ships in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Because of the long latency period involved in all asbestos diseases, both cancerous and non-cancerous, it may take from 20-50 years or more from initial exposure to the time symptoms begin to appear. Anyone who served aboard ship or worked in the shipyards is at risk.
During and after World War II, the use of asbestos on U. S. Navy ships was greatly expanded as asbestos manufacturers helped in writing ship product specifications. This caused thousands of shipyard workers who helped lay down new ships, and sailors who served aboard them or helped with overhaul in dry dock, to be unknowingly exposed to dangerous asbestos dust when they cut, sawed, mixed or tore out products. Typical products included insulation used on boilers or other high temperature vessels, pipe covering, firebrick, asbestos cement, fireproofing sprays, asbestos gaskets and packing and asbestos cloth and gloves. Those who worked aboard ship as machinist mates, boiler tenders and firemen, as well as those working on aircraft, or in communications or construction, were exposed daily in the course of doing their jobs. Shipyard workers such as insulators, shipfitters, pipe fitters, welders, electricians, painters and laborers, carried out their trades in exceptionally dusty conditions and now carry the greatest risk of disease.
In the 50-year period prior to the mid-1970s, the asbestos industry manufactured insulation products that were installed in almost every building, home, school, ship, car and plane in America. Surprisingly, these same manufacturers knew about the long-term health risks associated with asbestos exposure, but chose to ignore the dangers. By the time the Navy became aware that asbestos products were harmful, it was too late for the thousands of veterans who became ill with asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma as a result of their unnecessary exposure.
After their military service, most veterans of the asbestos era led lives outside the military. They married, built careers and raised families, never knowing that their exposure to asbestos while in the military might cruelly shorten their lives. Decades later and near retirement, many of these men and women are being denied the pleasure of living out their golden years with family and friends.
More on asbestos diseases contracted by veterans.
Diagnosis of mesothelioma.
all the above information is obtained from the following link.
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/clinical.htm
COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTERS
Written on 4:39 AM by Mohammad Jawad
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has designated 40 cancer centers throughout the United States as "Comprehensive" centers. These elite centers have been recognized for their focus on scientific excellence and have dedicated themselves to the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer, including malignant mesothelioma. Following is a list of Cancer Centers by state.
For veterans wishing to be treated at a Veterans Health Administration (VA) cancer care facility, click here for a listing by state.
Alabama
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
1802 6th Avenue, S.
Birmingham, AL 35294
Request an appointment: (800) UAB-0933 or (205) 975-8222
Arizona
Arizona Cancer Center
1515 N. Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85724
Request an appointment: (520) 626-2900
California
City of Hope National Medical Center
1500 E. Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010
Request an appointment: (866) 434-HOPE (4673)
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Moores Cancer Center
3855 Health Sciences Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093
Request an appointment: (866) 773-2703 or (858) 822-6200
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
10833 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Request an appointment: (800) 825-2631
USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
1441 Eastlake Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Request an appointment: (800) USC-CARE
University of California, Irvine (UCI) Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
101 The City Drive, S.
Orange, CA 92868
Request an appointment: (877) UCI-DOCS (824-3627)
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Comprehensive Cancer Center
1600 Divisadero Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Request an appointment: (888) 689-8273 or (415) 885-7777
Stanford University Comprehensive Cancer Center
875 Blake Wilbur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Request an appointment: (650) 498-6000
Colorado
University of Colorado Cancer Center
1665 N. Ursula Street
Aurora, CO 80045
Request an appointment: (800) 473-2288 or (720) 848-0300
Connecticut
Yale Cancer Center
15 York Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Request an appointment: (203) 785-4191
District of Columbia
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University
3800 Reservoir Road, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Request an appointment: (202) 444-2223
Florida
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
12902 Magnolia Drive
Tampa, FL 33612
Request an appointment: (888) 860-2778 or (813) 979-3980
Illinois
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Galter Pavilion
675 N. St. Clair, 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Request an appointment: (866) LURIE-CC (587-4322)
Iowa
University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
Request an appointment: (319) 356-4200 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (M-F)
(800) 777-8442 or
319) 384-8442 (After hours)
Maryland
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
401 N. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231
Request an appointment: (410) 955-5222
Massachusetts
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
44 Binney Street
Boston, MA 02115
Request an appointment: (877) 332-4294
Michigan
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Request an appointment: (800) 865-1125
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
4100 John R
Detroit, MI 48201
Request an appointment: (800) KARMANOS (527-6266)
Minnesota
University of Minnesota Cancer Center
425 E. River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Request an appointment: (888) CANCER MN (226-2376)
(Toll Free in IA, MN, ND, SD, WI)
(612) 624-2620 (Outside Area)
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
200 First Street, SW
Rochester, MN 55905
Request an appointment: (507) 538-3270
Missouri
Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
660 S. Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
Request an appointment: (877) 251-6485 or (314) 747-3046
New Hampshire
Norris Cotton Cancer Center
One Medical Center Drive
Lebanon, NH 03756
Request an appointment: (603) 653-9000
New Jersey
Cancer Hospital of New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
195 Little Albany Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08903
Request an appointment: (732) 828-3000
New York
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Elm and Carlton Streets
Buffalo, NY 14263
Request an appointment: (800) ROSWELL (767-9355)
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Request an appointment: (800) 525-2225
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
161 Fort Washington Avenue
New York, NY 10032
Request an appointment: (877) NYP-WELL (697-9355)
North Carolina
University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
450 West Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Request an appointment: (866) 828-0270
Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center
2424 Erwin Road
Durham, NC 27705
Request an appointment: (888) ASK-DUKE (275-3853)
Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
Request an appointment: (800) 446-2255 or (336) 716-2255
Ohio
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ireland Cancer Center
11100 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
Request an appointment: (800) 641-2422
Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Richard J. Solove Research Institute
300 W. 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Request an appointment: (800) 293-5066 or (614) 293-5066
Pennsylvania
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Request an appointment: (800) 789-PENN (7366)
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Request an appointment: (215) 728-2570
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
5150 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Request an appointment: (412) 647-2811
Tennessee
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
691 Preston Building
Nashville, TN 37232
Request an appointment: (800) 811-8480
Texas
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
Request an appointment: (800) 392-1611 or (713) 792-6161
Vermont
Vermont Cancer Center at the University of Vermont
89 Beaumont Avenue
Burlington, VT 05405
Request an appointment: (802) 656-4414
Washington
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
1100 Fairview Avenue, N.
Seattle, WA 98109
Request an appointment: (800) 804-8824 or (206) 288-1024
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center
600 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792
Request an appointment: (800) 622-8922
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE CANCER CENTERS
UC Davis Cancer Center
4501 X Street
Sacramento, CA 95817
Request an appointment: (800) 362-5566 or (916) 734-5900
University of Chicago Hospitals
5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
Request an appointment: (888) UCH-0200
NYU Cancer Institute
550 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Request an appointment: (888) 7-NYU-MED (769-8633)
The Cleveland Clinic, Taussig Cancer Center
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
Request an appointment: (866) 320-4573 or (216) 444-5501
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD
National Insitutes of Health
10 Center Dr.
Bethesda, MD 20892
Request an appointment: 301-496-2626
Thoughts on choosing a cancer treatment.
all the above information is obtained from the following link.
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/cancercenters.htm
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