Dr. Vonda Wright MD, MS, brings innovative nanotechnology to Central Florida, allowing the most minimally invasive, same-day diagnosis and knee surgery without incisions, general anesthesia or post-operative narcotics.
Dr. Vonda Wright, MD, MS, Orthopedic Sports Surgeon & President of Hughston Orthopaedics Southeast, partnered with UCF Lake Nona Hospital to bring a new arthroscopic technology to Central Florida. Nanotechnology allows patients the least invasive arthroscopic surgery currently available under local anesthesia while awake, without formal incisions, the need for post-operative narcotic pain control, and allows rapid recovery to normal.
The NanoScope visualization system, developed and manufactured by Arthrex, Inc. (Naples, FL), combines leading-edge technology in imaging sensors, LED Light, and image management.
Dr. Wright developed this outpatient and in-office technique for knee surgery, meniscus debridement and repair, cartilage injuries, arthritis diagnosis and care. She is progressing the technology for the treatment of shoulder and hip and is the first to perform this range of procedures using nanotechnology in the region.
Patients meeting the criteria for use of nanotechnology do not require formal incisions, as the needle-sized 1.9mm chip-on-tip scope is placed via "ports of entry" under local anesthesia while patients are comfortable and awake, eliminating the need for general anesthesia and its sequela (see attached image).
"Nanoscope technology has been a game changer for my patients, as it allows them to be partners with me in their own medical care as they see their joints in real-time, understand the treatment and literally walk out of the procedure room with no incisions, require no post-operative narcotics and often no physical therapy. Their rapid recovery enables less time away from work and play. I believe it is the next leap forward in minimizing patient risk and optimizing recovery in musculoskeletal surgery." - Dr. Vonda Wright, MD, MS
Dr. Wright and Hughston Orthopaedics are leaders in using innovative techniques for the most advanced care of patients to improve their experience, safety and outcomes.
About Dr. Vonda Wright, MD, MS - Dr. Wright is a double-boarded, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon. A recognized authority on active aging, she harnesses innovative technology to provide integrative patient-centered orthopedic sports surgery and wellness programming for the last 20 years. Focusing on minimally invasive surgery for hip preservation, shoulder and knee reconstruction, cartilage restoration, orthobiologics and the latest in injury prevention and performance optimization, Dr. Wright also serves as the President of Hughston Orthopaedics Southeast. As a team physician, she has cared for multiple professional, college and youth football and Olympic sports teams, as well as players of the PGA and the professional dancers of the Atlanta and Pittsburgh ballet companies. Dr. Wright is an accomplished researcher, 5x author, speaks worldwide and develops innovative programs for optimizing performance and minimizing injury from the ball field to the boardroom. www.drvondawright.com, www.hughstonlakenona.com
About Arthrex
Arthrex, Inc. (Naples, Florida) is a global leader in orthopedic surgical device design, research manufacturing and medical education. Arthrex develops and releases more than 2,000 products and procedures every year to advance minimally invasive orthopedics worldwide. For more information, visit Arthrex.com
As a trusted name in the world of healthcare design, Carolina, an OFS company, will once again be Presenting Sponsor at the 2023 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo.
"We are excited to have Carolina and OFS Brands return as the 2023 HCD Presenting Sponsor," said Kristin Zeit, Healthcare Design Portfolio Director. "Their expertise has clearly been demonstrated and attendees over the past five years have been able to see this firsthand. With this significant investment, it's obvious that Carolina sees the value in this show. Carolina is interested in the growth of this industry, and their continued commitment reflects that optimism."
As a multi-year presenting sponsor, Carolina, an OFS company, will provide considerable financial support for industry events during the show, while their logo and marketing message will maintain a significant presence throughout.
"For the 5th year running, Carolina is proud to be the presenting sponsor for Healthcare Design Conference & Expo—demonstrating our company's long-term commitment to the healthcare design community to create better environments to support caregivers, patients and their guests," said Stan Gray, Vice President, Healthcare and Hospitality at Carolina, an OFS company. "Nothing beats the opportunity to meet face-to-face with our clients in the healthcare community. HCD provides the ideal opportunity to present our latest product innovations and insights to the top leaders and decision-makers in the healthcare design industry."
The 2023 edition of the Healthcare Design Conference + Expo (with Carolina, an OFS company as Presenting Sponsor) is set to take place Nov. 4-7, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
About Healthcare Design Conference + Expo (HCD)
Produced with the support of partners like the Center for Health Design, the Healthcare Design Conference + Expo (HCD) is the industry's best-attended and most respected event focusing on design for healthcare. Devoted to increasing knowledge of how design directly impacts the safety, operations, clinical outcomes, and financial success of healthcare facilities, HCD brings together industry leaders for continuing education and networking opportunities. HCD is owned by Emerald Expositions, the largest operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States, with most of our shows dating back several decades. We currently operate more than 50 trade shows, including 31 of the top 250 trade shows in the country as ranked by TSNN, as well as numerous other events. Our events connect over 500,000 global attendees and exhibitors and occupy more than 6.9 million NSF of exhibition space. We have been recognized with many awards and accolades that reflect our industry leadership as well as the importance of our shows to the exhibitors and attendees we serve.
North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) has selected Neximatic Inc.'s Vital Sign Streaming Solution to automate charting, thereby reducing the documentation burden on the organization's clinicians and contributing to NAPA's mission of exceptional patient care. NAPA is the largest single-specialty anesthesia and pain management company in the U.S., with more than 6,000 clinicians providing anesthesia at hundreds of hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and office-based locations across 21 states.
Electronic health record (EHR) systems have helped clinical operations achieve a high level of patient care by streamlining information from patients' clinical and treatments history. However, manually charting vital signs on EHRs is a time-consuming process, requiring each measurement to be separately typed in, distracting clinicians from the dynamics in operating rooms. The benefits of automated charting are compelling. Enabling this feature uniformly across operations—from small surgery centers to large hospital systems—is complex because of various IT infrastructures and requirements. Neximatic's solution provides flexibility to support NAPA's charting automation roll out in diverse healthcare facilities.
"At NAPA, quality, safety, and patient experience are our primary concerns. We are continuously looking for tools to free our clinical teams from cumbersome expectations so they can remain focused on their patients," said Paul A. Murphy, NAPA Director Clinical Applications. "We have been pleased by Neximatic's solution. It has proven to be seamlessly and effectively deployed, even in challenging IT environments with systems outside of our direct management. This has allowed us to bring automated charting to any of our operations, and our clinical teams are already seeing results in process improvement."
"Our work with NAPA demonstrates the intelligence and foreword-thinking nature of our architecture," said Jack Li, VP of Technology. "Our highly scalable platform can meet the growing demands of NAPA and clinicians regardless of location or facility." Neximatic Inc.'s Vital Sign Streaming Solution runs on a hospital's existing IT infrastructure without requiring additional technology investment. It makes deployment of automated charting fast, simple, and cost-effective.
About NAPA
As a clinician-led organization, North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is redefining healthcare, delivering unsurpassed excellence to its partners and patients every day. NAPA has grown to become the nation's leading single-specialty anesthesia and pain management company. Our 6,000+ clinicians serve nearly 3 million patients annually at nearly 500 healthcare facilities in 21 states. For more information, please visit NAPAanesthesia.com.
About Neximatic, Inc.
Neximatic, Inc. is a technology provider for electronic health record (EHR) providers, enabling new features in EHRs. Its vital sign streaming solution has enabled automatic charting in AIMS and tele-health applications. For more information, please visit www.neximatic.com or email to [email protected].
Contact Information:
Bobby Wong
President [email protected]
3128601297
With a reported $140 billion in cryptocurrency stranded in inaccessible storage, the need for better digital asset management is more apparent than ever. Legacy Suite, the industry leader in digital asset preservation, has announced the rollout of Legal and Digital Suite, solutions designed to protect assets like cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and legal directives, and to ensure they are shared properly and securely in the event of a death or emergency.
"Most internet users' lives have become even more digitally focused in just the past few years," said Gordon Bell, founder, and president of Legacy Suite. "With the advent of cryptocurrencies and NFTs, people are using crypto wallets and blockchain technology to store and manage their digital assets. They are also creating more legal directives to ensure all types of assets are protected. We created Digital Suite and Legal Suite to give them peace of mind."
Citing research by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, The New York Times reported that about 20% of all 18.5 million Bitcoin, valued at $140 billion, were lost or stranded in crypto wallets. Thousands of people have lost access to their cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and other assets because of digital management problems, an issue that has plagued crypto investing from the outset.
Legacy Suite's Legal and Digital Suite enables clients to properly plan for the transferring of such assets or the sharing of private keys to protect them through blockchain technology. Through its patent-pending platform, Legacy Suite modernizes the traditional estate planning process with its critical ledger of crypto, NFTs, and all other forms of digital assets in a single secure, personalized, and centralized location.
The Legacy Suite platform makes it simple for users to safeguard important details regarding real estate and financial assets, social media accounts, email accounts, phone and computer passcodes, domain names, utilities, subscriptions, and seller accounts. Legacy Suite is designed for use with a partner or spouse, to protect the family's assets.
Legacy Suite's Digital Suite product lets clients manage, create, and share data, digital vaults, and passwords. Users can leverage the suite to store files and individually assign them to digital executors and trusted contacts.
The Legal Suite product can construct digital directives for cryptocurrencies, NFTs, social purposes, healthcare purposes, as well as power of attorney documents. A vault is also included through the Legal Suite line that can be used to safely organize and manage that documentation.
Maintaining those assets in one centralized location makes password sharing and the strategic distribution of critical information simple and efficient. Legacy Suite allows heirs to have full knowledge of an entire digital portfolio, such as what was owned by the original user, where certain assets are located, and how they can access them if the original user dies or becomes incapacitated.
Legacy Suite products leverage blockchain technology to protect those assets. It employs security encryptions cast using 256-bit AES encryption out of 128-bit and 192-bit to create a virtually impenetrable level of security. That secure storage, combined with the ability to reliably control shared access, ensures that assets are never lost or stranded.
The products leverage password manager LegacyPass™️, which has unique capabilities and uses innovative blockchain technology to encrypt and decrypt information using the Hybrid encryption scheme to share passwords and credentials securely with loved ones.
In addition, the Legacy Suite team continues to think and create and plans to add additional features in future generations of the platform, while providing an invaluable service at value pricing.
To learn more about Legacy Suite's rollout of the new Legal and Digital Suite, please visit https://www.legacysuite.com.
About Legacy Suite
We're thinkers, no. Artists, yes. We are determined to reframe digital utility, to shape and sculpt your legacy. Day in and day out, our artists like to challenge their mantra and are a group of code casters that don't know when to quit. Visit https://www.legacysuite.com.
SURREY, British Columbia - November 1, 2022 - (Newswire.com)
A clinical report has highlighted the risks and challenges associated with tracheal extubation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The important and interesting report was authored by Dr. Olu Bamgbade of the Salem Pain Clinic in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Tracheal intubation and extubation are aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMP), and have become of greater concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tracheal extubation generates detectable aerosol at 15-fold greater spread than intubation, especially during coughs. The management of AGMP is more challenging and delicate during a respiratory pandemic because of the increased risk of infection transmission to medical staff, patients and the clinical environment. Despite the high air exchange rates in medical units, tracheal extubation may potentially spread COVID-19 or other respiratory viruses into the clinical environment.
"The risk of AGMP-related viral dissemination must be mitigated, especially during tracheal extubation. Medical staff must utilize personal protective equipment, including face-shields. During tracheal intubation of COVID-19 patients, videolaryngoscopy must be employed instead of direct laryngoscopy to reduce proximity to the patient's airway and aerosol source," said Dr. Bamgbade. "Coughing or other complications of airway management should be minimized by timely efficient airway suctioning, good sedation maintenance/emergence techniques, intravenous lidocaine and intravenous magnesium. Tracheal extubation during simultaneous continuous endotracheal suctioning may significantly minimize airway secretions, coughing, aerosol generation and viral dissemination," explained Dr. Bamgbade. "The COVID-19 respiratory pandemic is a major medical concern; and concerted multidisciplinary team efforts must continue towards reducing the risk of viral spread during airway management. This is essential to minimize AGMP-related viral spread, and to protect clinical staff and patients," advised Dr. Bamgbade.
Based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, Salem Pain Clinic is a specialist pain clinic and research center that provides multimodal pain management, interventional pain treatment, substance misuse therapy, insomnia treatment and preoperative optimization therapy. Dr. Olu Bamgbade is an anesthesiologist, a specialist pain physician and the director of the Salem Pain Clinic. Visit https://salempainclinic.net/. For further information: [email protected].
Learn, Act, and Share to Join the Fight Against Homelessness
IRVINE, Calif. - November 1, 2022 - (Newswire.com)
HomeAid launches a month-long national campaign to raise awareness about homelessness. HomeAid believes housing is a human right. This awareness campaign encourages people to Learn, Act, and Share about the issues surrounding homelessness and will focus on those individuals and populations who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, every day in the United States, nearly 600,000 people live on our streets or in shelters, and thousands more families across the country live double and triple up with other families because they can't afford a home. The causes of homelessness are many, including job loss, lack of affordable housing, medical crisis, domestic abuse, and mental health disorders.
The solution to homelessness is straightforward: housing. By connecting people experiencing homelessness to housing and services, they have a safe and stable location from which they can address areas that may have contributed to their homelessness, such as unemployment, health problems, and addiction.
"As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, most people take time to consider what they're thankful for and donate some of their time, attention, and resources to others. In the spirit of thankfulness and giving, each year HomeAid initiates this 30-day campaign," said Scott Larson, Chief Executive Officer of HomeAid. "By becoming a part of this daily campaign, you are not only raising awareness but you are strengthening the national movement to building a future without homelessness in every community across this country."
HomeAid and its 19 affiliates will be participating in this awareness campaign throughout November. Various events and activities are planned across the country in honor of Homelessness Awareness Month. They include:
10/3 - Thanksgiving Meal Drive 10/3 through 11/4 - HA Orange County
10/3 - Share the Warmth Drive 10/3 through 10/28 - HA Colorado
10/19 - Foundation Builders Breakfast - HA Portland
11/4 - HALO Luncheon - HA Houston
11/5 - Ending Homelessness Gala - HA Orlando
11/7 - Share the Warmth Drive 11/7 through 11/30 - HA Puget Sound
11/10 - Top Golf Event - HA Los Angeles
11/12 - HA National Capital Region Gala & Auction - HA National Capital Region
11/13 - 5K Walk and 20th Anniversary Celebration - HA San Diego
11/15 - Toy Drive - HA Northern California
11/18 - Fundraising Luncheon - HA Austin
To learn more about HomeAid's mission, Homelessness Awareness Month, or how to get involved, please visit www.homeaid.org.
About HomeAid
Founded in 1989, HomeAid develops, builds, and preserves a variety of housing, including emergency, interim, transitional, permanent supportive, and affordable housing through its 19 affiliates in 13 states. HomeAid partners with hundreds of nonprofit organizations nationwide that provide housing and support services.
HomeAid has completed 1,043 housing and outreach projects with a value of more than $315 million. HomeAid has added over 12,600 beds that have served over 520,000 previously homeless individuals. For more information, visit www.homeaid.org.
Now that President Biden's student loan forgiveness option is available, many people are wondering if it's worth pursuing it, as working with bureaucracies like the federal government can seem like a headache.
Unfortunately, there are many scams out there trying to take advantage of people who are thinking about this option. Here's what you need to know and how to prevent yourself from getting scammed.
Why would scammers target student loans?
Unlike other student loan alternatives, education loans are one of the toughest debts to get rid of. They rarely qualify for outright forgiveness and cannot be written off with bankruptcy.
Consequently, many scammers see this as an opportunity to take advantage of desperate people. Now with student loan forgiveness available for a limited time, people looking to rip off well-intentioned but naive debt holders are at a critical level.
Common student loan scams
There are a few scams that you may run into when looking into student loan forgiveness.
The most common is the "loan forgiveness scam." This is when someone tells you that you can get your entire student loan forgiven quickly, usually within a couple of months. However, this is almost never true. To get your loan forgiven, traditionally, you must go through a process that can take many years and require a lot of paperwork.
President Biden's student loan forgiveness program removes these barriers for a limited time. Once his forgiveness program is over, getting your student loan debt absolved will go back to the complicated process it once was.
Another common scam is the "secret student loan forgiveness program." This is where someone will contact you and tell you that they work for a secret program that can immediately forgive your entire student loans.
How can I avoid being scammed?
Here are some tips to help you identify and avoid student loan forgiveness scams:
1. Refer to government websites for the most up-to-date information - Many scammers will offer information that is not officially sanctioned by the government and will direct you to sales pages set up just to take your money. Legitimate organizations like the Department of Education (DOE) will always have the most up-to-date information.
3. Avoid extraordinarily long and complicated contracts - Many scammers will try to get you to sign an agreement that is overly long and difficult to understand. Contracts like this often contain hidden terms that can lead to unexpected financial obligations later.
4. Be suspicious of anyone who offers a free trial, or money-back guarantee - These are common signs that a scammer is trying to take advantage of you.
5. Don't pay for advice - Many schemes involve paying a consultant or "debt advisor" in order to get started on the forgiveness process. Legitimate credit counseling services are often not-for-profit and can provide impartial advice that's low-cost or even free. Don't let anyone pressure you into making any payments before you know anything about the options available to you.
6. Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true - Many schemes promise student loan forgiveness in just a few short months or even weeks, but don't fall for promises that are too good to be true.
The bottom line
Although student loan forgiveness scams are rare, they are becoming more popular thanks to the federal student loan forgiveness program happening now. Being aware of the warning signs and taking preventative measures can help you avoid being scammed and get the relief you deserve.
Many individuals and families trying to take out car loans have noticed that the monthly payments for those loans are rising in 2022's latter half. This seems true for gas-powered cars, hybrid vehicles, and electric ones as well.
Anyone looking to get a loan to buy a car probably has questions in light of these monthly payment increases. For instance, you might wonder whether you're better off waiting a while for the rates to become more favorable. Can you pay off a car loan early? This is what other consumers want to know.
The following article will discuss the best strategies to cope with rising car loan payments.
How Do Car Loans Work?
If you want a loan to pay for a new, used, or certified pre-owned vehicle, you usually get one by approaching a bank or credit union and applying for the loan by filling out the necessary paperwork. Some lending entities allow you to do so online rather than in person.
You'll show proof of income and whatever else the lending entity requires. If you accept the loan terms, they'll give you a lump sum of money to buy the vehicle. You'll then pay back that amount over an agreed-upon period, along with interest. That interest is how the lending entity makes money on the deal.
You can also avoid borrowing money from a lending entity if you have enough for a down payment on the vehicle without one. Some car sellers will even let you drive off the lot with no money down. If you don't pay anything down at the time of purchase, though, you can expect to pay more every month until you've fully paid off the vehicle.
Monthly Loan Payment Amounts Are Rising
As we progress into the 21st century, hybrid and electric cars are becoming more desirable than gas-powered ones. That makes sense since they're better for the planet, and you don't have to spend as much on gas when you drive one.
However, hybrid and electric vehicle owners are now paying more each month for the car loans they took out. Many of them are paying $1,000 or more per month. Meanwhile, the average price of a brand-new car in 2022's third quarter was $45,971, according to J.D. Power and LMC Automotive.
What Are Some Possible Solutions?
You might ponder how to combat higher car loan payments this year. If you haven't bought a new vehicle yet, you can consider waiting a few weeks till dealerships have their end-of-the-year holiday sales. At that time, the price for this year's models should drop somewhat.
You can avoid buying a car for now in the hopes that these high loan payment rates will drop. That might be a viable option if you can take public transportation or rideshares to get to your job or anywhere else you need to go.
Maybe you already bought a car, and you're dealing with high monthly loan payments. If so, you can consider paying back the loan quicker by scraping the money together or borrowing the bulk from a friend or relative. If you pay back the remainder of the loan early, though, you might have to come up with an early payment penalty as well. Check the loan's fine print to see if that's applicable.
Choose the Best Available Option
Each consumer must decide what to do in the face of rising car loan payments. You can wait for end-of-the-year sales to see if you can get a better deal on the vehicle you want. You might hold off on buying a car if you can use public transportation or rideshares instead.
Paying off the remainder of your car's loan is only an option if you can come up with that money. Before you do, check to see whether your loan comes with an early payment penalty.
Be aware of rising car loan payments, and figure out the strategy to combat them that makes the most sense for you.
The core component of a term life insurance policy is the death benefit. The policyholder's beneficiaries receive this money, which can help replace the policyholder's income and pay off debts if the policyholder passes away during the policy term.
Prospective policyholders often encounter life insurance riders, or optional add-on coverage, while searching for a policy. However, some riders may cost extra, so policyholders may wonder if they're helpful. This article will explain a few benefits of adding riders to a term life insurance policy, then explore a few popular riders.
Benefits of life insurance riders
Life insurance riders can offer term life insurance policyholders numerous benefits. Here are a few advantages:
1. They let policyholders customize coverage.
The main benefit of life insurance riders is that they allow the policyholder to customize their coverage to their needs. For instance, a policyholder might have their policy for many years and want to protect their death benefit from inflation. So, they might invest in an inflation rider that grows their death benefit each year to keep up with inflation.
2. They can be free or typically lower-cost.
Some life insurance riders are free — either included in the policy automatically or upon request. Those that aren't free are often affordable, making altering coverage fairly inexpensive.
3. There are many types.
Life insurers may offer different life insurance riders to fit multiple needs. Prospective policyholders can shop around to find insurers offering the riders they need most and compare costs, saving money while getting the coverage they need.
Types of life insurance riders to consider
As mentioned, many life insurers offer numerous riders. Exact terms and costs may vary, but here are a few common riders policyholders can choose from:
1. Inflation rider
Inflation riders increase the death benefit by a fixed percentage, usually 3% to 5%, every year to keep up with inflation. This protects the death benefit against inflation and offers beneficiaries a higher death benefit. These riders cost money, but the price can be well worth it. For example, a 5% inflation rider on a $500,000 death benefit will increase the death benefit to $502,500 after one year — a $2,500 increase.
2. Return of premium rider
Return of premium riders may be added to term life policies and will refund all paid premiums to a policyholder if they outlive the policy term. Getting this rider can make a term life policy more expensive. However, policyholders can benefit from these if they're confident they'll outlive their policy term.
3. Child life insurance policy rider
A child life insurance policy rider pays the policyholder a small death benefit if their child passes away while the policy is in force. This helps policyholders pay for funeral costs and similar expenses and provides financial peace of mind while the parents grieve.
Customize life insurance coverage with riders
Life insurance riders can benefit policyholders by allowing them to customize coverage at a low cost. For example, policyholders who want to outpace inflation can consider an inflation rider. The return of premium rider can work well for term life insurance policyholders confident they'll outlive their policy. Finally, a child insurance rider can be a good idea for policyholders who want to prepare for the worst.
Regardless, policyholders should shop around to see what kind of coverage and riders each insurer offers while comparing quotes. This will help them tailor coverage to their needs while staying within budget.
NEW YORK & PITTSBURGH - November 1, 2022 - (Newswire.com)
Platform is powered by Cedar's innovative Payer Intelligence Layer, and is a key component of Highmark Health's Living Health care model
Delivers real-time access to medical bills, benefits coverage verification, deductible status, health savings account balances and more
During a single healthcare encounter, a typical consumer may have multiple, disconnected interactions with their provider and payer about the financial aspects of their visit. For example, consumers looking to pay a bill, check their deductible progress or verify their health benefit account balance might have to utilize multiple communications methods, such as phone calls, apps or provider- and insurer-affiliated web portals.
This lack of alignment leads to frustration and confusion for consumers, resulting in missed payments, overspending, administrative waste and money left on the table for consumers, who may be unaware of their available spending account funds. Not only do U.S. consumers spend 12 million hours a week on the phone with health insurers, but more than one-third of consumers have been sent to debt collections because of a billing issue between their healthcare provider and health insurer.
To address the systemic challenges consumers face when paying for healthcare, Cedar, an enterprise healthcare engagement platform that improves the end-to-end consumer financial journey, has developed the Payer Intelligence Layer. With the Payer Intelligence Layer, Cedar can now integrate data from health insurers and healthcare providers to help create a single source of information for consumers managing medical bills. A game-changer for the healthcare industry, Pittsburgh-based Highmark Inc. and Allegheny Health Network (AHN) will be the first to launch the new technology for services provided to Highmark Inc. members at AHN wholly owned providers and facilities.
"For too long, payer and provider misalignment has led to a poor experience and lack of clarity for consumers managing healthcare bills — this is a system problem, requiring a system solution," said Seth Cohen, president of Cedar. "When each party plays a separate role, neither can fix the experience alone. But by bringing both sides together, we can create the best possible experience, reducing billing friction for consumers while delivering more efficient operations for payers and providers."
Initially available with Cedar Pay, the company's billing and payment solution, the Payer Intelligence Layer enables consumers to access insurance explanation of benefits, real-time deductible status and health benefit accounts in the same place where they view and resolve medical bills — using a single, intuitive interface. Unlike other patient billing solutions, Cedar ensures consumers have the most up-to-date benefits information at their fingertips by directly integrating with health insurers as well as banks, which are responsible for administering health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts and health reimbursement accounts.
"Healthcare billing can be fragmented, cumbersome and overwhelming to navigate," said Neil Kulkarni, vice president, Customer and Clinician Experience Solutions at Highmark Health. "Consumers want clear, easy-to-understand bills for their care and a simple way to pay — with their spending account information available across all channels. As part of Highmark Health's Living Health model designed to deliver a blended and seamless health care experience, our collaboration with Cedar will help us to meet those customer expectations," he said.
"The financial experience in healthcare is a real pain point for most consumers, and for most care providers. The issues associated with healthcare billing can only be resolved if all major players come together and collaborate for the benefit of consumers," said James Rohrbaugh, chief financial officer and treasurer at Allegheny Health Network. "Our work with Cedar will be important in driving real progress in this area, helping our patients and members with an intuitive experience that fosters a sense of control and understanding about their financial responsibility."
AHN and Highmark are collaborating with Cedar in distinct but integrated ways. Patients who visit AHN providers and facilities will experience the new and enhanced billing, statement and call center process, and simplified access to flexible payment options, all driven by the Cedar Pay platform. For AHN patients who are also enrolled as Highmark members, the enhancements multiply. Beginning at the end of October, the nearly 300,000 members visiting AHN providers will now have the added benefit of having their insurance information incorporated directly into a single billing statement. Members will see how their benefits have been applied, available health spending account funds and their progress towards their deductible and out-of-pocket limits — both when paying AHN bills online, and on the mailed paper statements.
"We're excited to be launching with healthcare industry leaders Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network to solve this persistent problem," added Cohen, Cedar's president. "But this is only the beginning: Cedar is continuing to explore more ways of leveraging payer data and new integrations to enrich the end-to-end healthcare experience for today's consumers."
About Cedar
Cedar is committed to improving the healthcare financial experience for all. With an innovative platform that connects providers and payers, Cedar empowers healthcare consumers with an optimized journey — all powered by data science and interactive design. For Cedar clients, this leads to increased payments, more efficient operations and greater consumer loyalty. To learn more about why leading U.S. healthcare organizations trust Cedar to manage the end-to-end consumer experience from pre-registration to post-visit billing, visit www.cedar.com and join us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
About Highmark Health
Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based enterprise that employs more than 37,000 people who serve millions of Americans across the country, is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, enGen, Helion, and Lumevity. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to more than six million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New York, as well as dental insurance, and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses. Allegheny Health Network is an integrated delivery network in western Pennsylvania comprised of 14 hospitals, more than 2,600 affiliated physicians, ambulatory surgery centers, an employed physician organization, home and community-based health services, a research institute, a group purchasing organization, and health and wellness pavilions. enGen is focused on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark Health enterprise as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge, and integrated cloud-based platforms. Helion works with payers to cultivate high-performing networks while empowering providers to operate at their best. Lumevity helps companies transform in ways that drive direct financial benefits while improving quality and increasing employee engagement. To learn more, visit www.highmarkhealth.org.
About Allegheny Health Network
Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org), a Highmark Health company, is an integrated health care delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, an employed physician organization, home- and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. AHN provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, cardiovascular disease, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women's health, diabetes and more. AHN employs approximately 21,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff, and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Contact Information:
Rachel Borowski
Highmark Health [email protected]
