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>> When You Have To Find a New Doctor <<

As many of you know, I live and work in Dallas, TX. For lo these many years I have relied on a group of senior medical centers where my clients could get quality medical care from geriatric specialists who would accept Medicare without complaint and who were located in or near the neighborhoods where my clients actually live. This meant that older folks could drive themselves to their regularly scheduled appointments on streets they knew.

Now, because Medicare payments to doctors are being reduced again, these neighborhood centers are being closed down and consolidated into one facility near a major downtown hospital where the traffic is congested, the homeless roam, and traffic is a nightmare of confusing one-way streets. Chances are, many of my clients will need to find a new doctor. This is a tragedy for them, and for their families. For that matter, it's a minor tragedy for me, too. I attend a lot of doctor appointments and I don't like driving in that part of town either. But I can cope with it. Many seniors can't.

So what do you do when you have to find a new doctor who takes new Medicare patients? If you don't have a recommendation from someone you trust (the first option), and you don't have access to an eldercare specialist like me...the best option...(smile) you'll have to dig in and do some research. There are a few tools that can make it a bit easier, but nothing will replace good old fashioned footwork.

You can use the Medicare website at http://www.medicare.gov
Scroll down to "Find A Doctor."

The Medicare website lists physicians who have agreed to accept Medicare assignment from their patients. This means they have agreed to accept the amount Medicare says they should charge for an office visit, and they have agreed to bill Medicare for the amount they are owed. They will only ask the patient to pay the required co-pay amount.

The Medicare website is a good place to start but you should be aware that the website is usually pretty out of date. Many of the physicians listed are no longer accepting new Medicare patients, or they aren't accepting assignment. This latter means the patient will have to pay for the office visit and send in a claim to Medicare for reimbursement.

You'll have to telephone the office to see if the website information is still correct. And, of course, Medicare gives you their addresses but not their telephone numbers. Helpful.

You can also use the American Medical Association website at http://dbapps.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm .
This site gives more complete information about doctors (including telephone numbers) but doesn't tell you whether the doctor takes Medicare. So that's another phone call unless you compare the results side-by-side with the Medicare site. And even then, you can't be sure. So you have to call.

Using these two websites can give you a starting-point list of possible doctors to follow up with.

Next issue: What to ask when you're looking for a doctor.

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Stdueis hvae sowhn

you should be able to read this...

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

So much for spelling!

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>> Elder Care Tip <<

Warmth is comforting, even in the middle of the summer. If you or your elder can't sleep, try a hot water bottle. A hot water bottle can be cuddled like a baby or snuggled against your feet. It is much safer for the elderly than a heating pad, which can get dangerously hot. Wrap the bottle in a towel and pin it closed - much more soothing than the bare rubber. Warm water, please - not boiling.

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If you've got a Reader Tip you'd like to share, please send it to mailto:molly@eldercareteam.com with the subject line "care tip."

Let me know if I can use your name. Or if you'd rather have me leave your name off, that's OK, too.

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A Request: Do you live in Texas? Are you working on applying for Medicaid help with paying for nursing home care for someone?I need three reader-reviewers to comment on a just finished short guide to the Medicaid application process in Texas. I will send a copy for review to the first three people who will commit to giving honest feedback about how easy this guide is to understand and follow, and whether it is useful to you. This invitation will not appear on the website copy of today's newsletter. Only you, as a subscriber, are invited to participate.

If you are interested please send me an email with "Review Copy" in the subject line. I'll send you a pdf copy. I ask only that you read it and tell me what you think within the next week. It's short, only 20 pages, so it will be an easy read. You must be willing to permit me to use your comments in possible future promotional materials.

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One of the most difficult things to contend with in a hospital is the assumption on the part of the staff that because you have lost your gall bladder you have also lost your mind.
-- Jean Kerr

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Scripps Howard News Service
April 28, 2005

- SACRAMENTO, Calif. - An assisted living facility for the elderly was raided by state game officials who seized 22 mutilated wild Canada geese that they suspected would be cooked and fed to the residents.

The California Department of Fish and Game was investigating the owner for trapping wild birds and mutilating them so they couldn't fly away before they were needed to feed elderly residents.

- Sacramento Bee

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I have to admit that this story caught my eye. Didn't the residents of this peculiar assisted living ever have any visitors? Did not one person ever notice a gaggle of wounded geese staggering about the yard?

I think I must be slipping, because never in a million years would I have thought to include "look for wildlife on the dinner menu" on an evaluation checklist. Nevertheless, this true story illustrates just how careful you have to be when looking at a residential care facility. Use your eyes, use your ears and your nose and, most of all your common sense. If something doesn't feel right, believe your feelings until they have been proven absolutely wrong.

For the inside scoop on what to look for in an assisted living (hint: it's not usually geese) you should read the Insider's Guide To Assisted Living, now available at http://www.eldercareteam.com/resources/knowassistedliving.htm
as well as on Amazon.com. Read it before you look and you'll know so much you'll worry the manager.

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That's it for now. Don't keep us a secret. If you know other people who should be reading this too, then do them and us a favor by telling them about Elder CareTips(TM). Just send them this link:http://eldercareteam.com/resources/newsletter.htm

Until next time - Happy Mom's Day to all Moms everywhere! Hope you'll soon be sharing chocolate and flowers (or whateveryour own favorite brand of vice) with someone you love.

Best Regards Always,
Molly

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© 2005 Molly Shomer, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from Elder CareTips: Mastering The Eldercare Maze(TM) as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link and email link. I would appreciate it if you would let me know where the material will appear.

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To subscribe, send a blank email to eldermatters@aweber.com

Molly Shomer
Head Coach
The Eldercare Team
http://www.eldercareteam.com
molly@eldercareteam.com
(972) 395-7823

Box 700291
Dallas, TX 75370