Best practices in patient advocacy

Area of Science:

• Health Information Management
• Patient Advocacy
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Insurance claim denials and treatment authorization rejections present significant barriers for patients.
• Navigating the complexities of medical records and insurance documentation is challenging for individuals.
• Patient advocates are increasingly sought after to assist patients in these situations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the growing role of patient advocates in resolving insurance claim and treatment authorization denials.
• To identify opportunities for Health Information Management (HIM) professionals within the patient advocacy field.
• To provide insights into the skills and knowledge required for HIM professionals entering patient advocacy.

Main Methods:

• This section is not detailed in the provided abstract.
• The abstract suggests a qualitative overview of the field and opportunities.
• Further details on methodology would be required for a comprehensive analysis.

Main Results:

• Patient advocates are becoming a primary resource for patients facing claim denials.
• HIM professionals possess transferable skills valuable in patient advocacy.
• The field of patient advocacy presents emerging career opportunities for HIM professionals.

Conclusions:

• Patient advocacy is a rapidly expanding area offering new avenues for HIM professionals.
• Understanding medical records and insurance claims is crucial for effective patient advocacy.
• HIM professionals are well-positioned to fill critical roles in supporting patients through the appeals process.