What is a Patient Advocate?

Patient Advocacy – What is it – what does a patient health advocate do? Professional patient health advocates are trained in many aspects of facilitation for your health and wellness. Advocates also specialize in various skills and services, which can include the following:

Help you learn more about your medical condition and treatment options
Help you make difficult medical decisions
Help you maintain a healthy pregnancy and raise healthy babies by working with a midwife, doula, or lactation specialist
Teach you pain management techniques
Accompany you to medical appointments or stay by your bedside in the hospital
Help you navigate the insurance maze
Help you file health insurance claims, dispute denials, and manage or reduce your hospital and medical bills
Help your family agree on decisions that need to be made for a loved one who needs health-related assistance
Find legal assistance after a medical error
Track paperwork and records
Help you file for social security disability or other assistance
.. or help with many additional services, too.

Patient Advocacy and Navigation Services » Medical / Navigational Assistance and Case Management

Diagnosis and treatment – review of recommendations and options, assistance with decision-making
Background research: diagnosis and/or treatment options
Records review and discussion
Preparation for appointments
Accompaniment to appointments
Hospital bedside monitoring
Pain Management and Palliative Care Consulting
Healthcare proxy and advance directive assistance
Caregiver support
Guardianship or Conservatorship Services

Medical Billing / Health Insurance / Medicare / Payer Assistance

Medical bill reviews and reconciliation
Helping you choose the right health insurance plan or payer for you
Filing and tracking medical bill paperwork and payments
Negotiations: disputes, denials of claims, and appeals, for hospital bills or other medical billing
Medicare or Medicaid recommendations and decision-making (Advantage Plans, Medigap, others)

Home Health and Eldercare Services

In-home nursing care
Home therapy and rehabilitation
Daily living assistance
Assisted living and nursing home recommendations
Pain Management
Hospice services
End-of-life planning, including advance directives

End of Life Planning Services

In-home nursing care
Home therapy and rehabilitation
Daily living assistance
Assisted living and nursing home recommendations
Hospice and palliative care services

Shared Decision Making » Pain Management and Palliative Care Consulting » Mental Health / Substance Abuse Services » Dental Advocacy

Decision-making for dental health needs
Review and negotiation of dentist bills

Pregnancy, Birth and Pediatric Assistance

Midwife or doula services including home and water birthing
Lactation consulting
Birth coaching
Lamaze technique training

Mediation Assistance for Family Health Matters

When difficult health-related decisions need to be made for a loved one, including family disputes (moving a parent into a nursing home, choosing an out-of-town treatment facility, and others)

Legal or Fiduciary Assistance (Medical / Healthcare Related)

Worker’s Compensation assistance
Disability filings and review including Social Security Disability
Malpractice and medical error review
Guardianship or Conservatorship services

Prevention Services

Pain Management
Drug reviews
Health and wellness planning
Weight Loss
Health Education
Prevention resources
Find an appropriate provider or practitioner