Patient Advocacy

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Patient Advocate
Help to determine “What’s Next” or what type of care is appropriate?
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Moving and Downsizing information?

Making the Move - Services and Specialists

Senior Move Management is the profession that assists older adults and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of relocation and/or “aging in place.” Senior move managers specialize in issues that come with a move to a nursing home or downsizing. They can take care of personal belongings including donating and selling items and hiring movers. The managers can maneuver through the things as simple as trash-disposal rules to dealing with out of town family members who want items sent to them. Additionally they assist with packing and unpacking, and even calling the utility companies. Most also help with decluttering and organizing the homes of seniors who wish to stay put.

The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) accredits these professionals, and consumers can search for a local move manager on the NASMM website. Be sure to ask for references.

To find a Senior Move Manager in your area visit https://www.nasmm.org/find/index.cfm

Selling and disposing items yourself

  • Consignment sales -

    When someone chooses to sell their goods at a consignment store they are making the shop owner the point of sale. Consignment is having a third party sell your items at their storefront or weekend sale. In return for their services they will receive a percentage of each item sold.

  • Online auctions/estate sales -

    According to Blue Moon Estate Sales, “The newest trend in the local second hand market place is online auction and estate sales. Online auctions have been around for quite a while with the most common being eBay. There are several websites similar to eBay but operate within a local community or city instead of a national scale. Online estate sales begin by calling up a company to evaluate the contents of the home. The representative will then decide if there are any items of value in the home and place pictures and descriptions of each item on their own website. Once items are sold the company will ship each item to its respective buyer. The cost of shipping is usually paid for by whoever purchased the item. Auctions usually have a starting bid of 1$, while estates sales will price each item at fair market value. For both online auctions and estate sales, a time limit is placed on each sale and items that do not sell will be either returned to the owners, donated, or thrown in the trash. Online auctions and online estate sales will take off 30-40% commission.”

  • Traditional Estate Sales -

    Estate sales turn an individual home into a professional sales setting for 1-4 days depending on the size and amount of items in the house. A good estate sale company should be able to liquidate between 90-95%. Many estate sale companies work with charities and other companies that will come in and remove the remaining contents of the home, if that is what the client desires. They work by sending a representative to evaluate the house and decide if there is enough quantity and quality items to conduct a successful sale, then offer a standard sales contract. The contracts usually include a commission rate (between 30-40%), liability clauses, timeframes of payments, and any extra fees that one could expect. Before hiring any professional, ask to speak to former clients and attend a sale to get a good understanding of the estate sale process.
    Selling the estate:

  • Seniors Real Estate Specialists® or SRES® designees are REALTORS® qualified to address the needs of home buyers and sellers age 50+.

For more in depth guidance and explanation of services available, contact our “Transitions through Admissions” team

Feel you or a loved one is being discharged from a hospital or nursing home too soon?
  • If you believe you're being discharged from a hospital too soon, you have the right to an immediate review of your case. The Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO) in your area will conduct the review. 
  • See our Medicare Appeal Information at the bottom of this page.
  • For more in depth assistance and explanation of services contact a patient advocate
Appealing an insurance denial for care?

If you believe the determination of a claim is incorrect, you may file an appeal. Some states may allow providers to file on their own behalf in certain circumstances. Please review the applicable state law for appeal rights.

  • An appeal will be reviewed by parties not involved in the initial determination. In order to request an appeal, you need to submit your request in writing within the time limits set forth in the medical insurance policy if filing on behalf of the covered person.
  • If filing on your own behalf, you need to submit your written request within the time frame established by applicable state law. Contact your health insurance Grievance and Appeals Office for the address
  • Include with your request:
    • A copy of the original claim
    • The explanation of remittance showing the denial
    • Any clinical records and other documentation that support your case for reimbursement
    • An Appointment of Representative (AOR) Form or other legal documentation authorizing you to act on the covered person’s behalf (if you are filing an appeal on behalf of a covered person). Visit CMS.gov to print a copy of the form. (https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/downloads/cms1696.pdf)
  • For more in depth assistance or to have our “Transitions through Admissions” patient advocate team complete an appeal on your behalf contact us for more information.
Overwhelmed? Consider a Private Patient Advocate

Healthcare Roadmap was built as a resource for patients and families to be their own advocate. If you are still confused and overwhelmed, you may want to consider more hands-on assistance. Learn if a Private Patient Advocate may be right for you. 

Contact a Patient Advocate

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