Corinthian Health Services Blog

Blog for Corinthian Health Services

14 Tips for a Happy, Healthy Heart

It’s Valentine’s Day! With all of the hearts stocking the store shelves this month, it’s the best time of year to be thinking about your health. Here are 14 tips for a happy, healthy heart.

Say Yes to Healthy Fats, No to Trans Fats

The human body needs fats to function well. It needs saturated, unsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. What it doesn’t need, however, are trans fats, which increase the risk of a stroke or heart ailments. Trans fats clog the arteries. They are often found in baked goods, junk foods, and fried fast foods. They elevate the body’s bad cholesterol levels and lower the good ones. Cutting trans fats from your diet will significantly improve your blood flow.

14 Tips for a Happy, Healthy Heart

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IVIG for MS – An Overview of IVIG Benefits for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

IVIG for MS may help reduce symptoms of the disease and its progression. Always speak with your doctor regarding the best treatment plan for you.

Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is the result of the body’s immune system attacking a substance called myelin, which wraps around nerve fibers to protect them. Without myelin, exposed nerves can become damaged, often forming scar tissue, which interferes with nervous system functions. This is where multiple sclerosis gets its name, which means “many scars.”

IVIG for MS Benefits

Intravenous immunoglobulin, commonly referred to as IVIG, is generally used to help the body fight off disease by boosting the immune system. A derivative of donated blood, this medicine is made by filtering antibodies from many donors and pooling them together in a liquid suspension.

ivig for ms

IVIG has been shown to be effective for treating some neurological diseases by increasing the functions of some parts of the immune system while decreasing others. As an off-label treatment for MS, IVIG is used to help slow the progression of the disease as well as reduce the symptoms and disabilities it causes. Doctors also believe that it can lengthen the time between relapses for those suffering from relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

MS-Specific Uses for IVIG

Currently, IVIG is not a general treatment for multiple sclerosis at this time. However, it is used in more specific areas where it has been shown to be particularly effective.

  • Patients who cannot tolerate common therapies: IVIG use is recommended in cases where patients are unable to tolerate currently common MS therapies such as those that use Copaxone, Betaseron, Avonex, and Rebif.
  • Pregnant women: Some studies have shown that IVIG can reduce the chance of having a relapse during pregnancy.
  • Postpartum women: In about one-third of all cases, women with MS will experience a relapse after childbirth. IVIG has been shown to be effective in preventing these relapses.
  • People with primary progressive MS: A European study showed that IVIG could help to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis in people with primary progressive MS.

How Effective is IVIG for MS?

How Effective is IVIG for MSAt present, the medical community is fairly well divided on the effectiveness of IVIG for treating multiple sclerosis. Some studies seem to show beneficial effects from IVIG treatments while others report that there is no significant difference between patients treated with IVIG and those given a placebo.

In an article published in 2008, Professor Jeffrey A. Cohen discusses the meaning of some of these conflicting reports and stresses that none of the studies conducted so far are considered to be definitive. However, he has indicated that several studies demonstrate the beneficial effects of IVIG in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. The magnitude of the benefits in terms of reductions in relapse rate and MRI lesion activity seemed to be favorable.

Possible Side Effects of IVIG

ivig for msAs with most medical treatments, someone treated with IVIG may experience side effects. Some of the most common side effects include:

  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Joint pain
  • Chest pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Rash

There are also rare, but serious, side effects such as kidney failure or dysfunction, aseptic meningitis or what are known as thrombotic events which include things like stroke, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or deep vein thrombosis.

For these reasons, IVIG is not to be used on patients with an IgA deficiency or existing kidney problems or failure. For people with heart problems or diabetes, doctors advise using IVIG only with a great deal of caution and careful monitoring.

If you have questions about IVIG for MS or think it might be a good treatment option for you, talk with your doctor. He’ll be able to help you weigh out the potential pros and cons to developing an effective overall MS treatment plan.

New Year, New You: Five Uncommon Tips for a Healthy Immune System

Imagine a levee near a river bank. It’s there to prevent water overflow to protect the nearby land. Or think of a computer firewall. It protects the files on the machine from unwanted invasion. The body’s immune system operates the same way. It fights off bodily intruders like viruses, infections, and bacteria to prevent illnesses. You’re probably already aware of the typical things you can do to boost your immune system, like:

  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Exercise regularly
  • Drink alcohol in moderation, or not at all
  • Say no to cigarettes
  • Get adequate sleep
  • Minimize stress
  • Get flu shots

Most of these things are taught to us from the time we’re toddlers. But sometimes, taking care of your body means more than just doing the basics. Below are a few uncommon tips that can help you give your immune system an extra boost.

Boost Your Vitamin D3

Healthy immune system

Vitamin D is actually a hormone that the body can organically manufacture. It’s fat-soluble and helps you maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D has a variety of types, but D2 and D3 are vital to the human body. Ergocalciferol or D2 is manufactured in plants. Cholecalciferol or D3 is produced by the body when the skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet-B rays, thus its moniker “the sunshine vitamin.”

Vitamin D helps in the body’s intake of calcium. It’s important in bone mineralization, which can reduce the chances of osteoporosis. D3 mainly helps fortify the immune system and protects the body against various illnesses; everything from common colds to severe osteomalacia. Diet-wise, it’s not easy to get vitamin D. Very few foods supply it.  Milk and cheese contain vitamin D, but it’s mostly D2, which can be a less of a priority than D3. Exposing yourself to the UVB rays of the sun daily (but in moderation) is the best way of getting vitamin D3.

Grab Some Ginger

Ginger isn’t only a great culinary spice. It’s also good for medicinal purposes. It is used mainly as an anti-inflammatory agent and a digestive aid. This somewhat spicy flowering plant is also useful in relieving nausea and preventing vomiting.

Ginger has been predominantly used in traditional medicine for minimizing inflammation. As such, regular intake of ginger in various forms can help the body strengthen its immune system. It can be eaten raw or cooked. It can also be added to drinks and syrups. Some people avoid eating it because of its tart, zingy taste. If you have this problem, try making ginger tea.ginger tea

Adopt an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Chronic inflammation is often the root cause of many life-threatening health conditions. Inflammation can trigger heart ailments, Alzheimer’s, and even cause cancer. Now more than ever, you should consider adopting an anti-inflammatory diet. Here’s an anti-inflammatory food pyramid you can follow. In a nutshell, this diet should include:

  • Berries: Common berries are packed with anti-inflammatory effects. To get the full punch, eat black raspberries. Also, try the juice of sea buckthorn berries aka olivello juice.
  • Black Cod: Butterfish is loaded with omega-3 fatty acid. They even have more of this good acid than salmon.
  • Bok Choy: This green, leafy vegetable from Asia has potent anti-inflammatory effects. It’s a versatile veggie brimming with vitamin A and beta-carotene.

Wash Those Hands

And do it properly. Hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid the spread of infection. While you can’t eliminate all the bacteria, washing your hands helps get rid of most of them. The thing with hand washing is that most people take it for granted, or are careless about the action.

It’s important to wash your hands before eating. It’s extremely important to wash your hands before, during, and after food preparation. And again, wash up after using the toilet, after blowing your nose, or after sneezing. Thoroughly wash them after touching garbage, when caring for someone who is ill, and after handling animal food.

How long do you need to wash them to eliminate germs? Do it for at least 20 seconds. Singing the Happy Birthday song twice while soaping your hands should give you just the right amount of time. Then, rinse well. Using a clean towel, dry your hands. If soap and water are unavailable, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

It’s unusual to live your life without having problems or illness. Those things, as painful or uncomfortable they are, come and go. Remember, you can have a lot of problems (and you can deal with them), but you can’t have another body. You need to take good care of the one you’ve got.

Work to manage your stress. Don’t let it defeat you. Laugh. Surround yourself with people you love, and do your best to maintain a positive attitude. Keep in mind that your physical body health depends on your mental health, too.   Your immune system can only be as strong as its weakest link. Don’t let it down. Be proactive in fortifying your immune system, and it will allow you to live a longer, healthier, and happier life.

 

IVIG Purchase Reimbursement – Everything You Need to Know

A steady and sustainable stream of revenue is integral to the health of any practice. And often, revenue hinges on the ability to secure timely reimbursements, especially for expensive products like IVIG. If you’re like most physicians, you know all too well how challenging IVIG purchase reimbursement can be.IVIG Purchase Reimbursement

From payment denials to nuanced processes, unsuccessful IVIG purchase reimbursement efforts can hurt your bottom line. To ensure speedy and accurate IVIG purchase reimbursement, you must be well-versed in MACs, relevant codes, and reimbursement files.

What are Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)?

Acquiring an in-depth understanding of the role and function of a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) is critical to managing your practice’s or center’s IVIG purchase reimbursements. MACs essentially acts as intermediaries between healthcare facilities and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). All financial transactions are submitted by healthcare facilities to MACs to be processed for payment. MACs perform a host of time-sensitive and critical tasks including:

  • Submitting and accounting for Medicare FFS payments
  • Processing, Medicare FFS claims
  • Enrolling providers in the Medicare FFS program
  • Managing provider reimbursement services and provider cost reports
  • Overseeing and responding to redetermination requests (first stage appeals process)
  • Responding to provider inquiries and teaching providers about Medicare FFS billing requirements
  • Establishing and communicating local coverage determinations (LCD’s)
  • Reviewing medical records relevant to specific claims
  • Coordinating and communicating with CMS and additional FFS contractors

As you can see, MACs play an essential and decisive role in IVIG reimbursement and process over 1.2 billion Medicare FFS claims each year.

Using the Right Codes

The importance of using the right medical codes when it comes to submitting an IVIG purchase reimbursement claim is often underestimated. Precise medical coding is significant on many levels, among the most notable being its role in helping to maintain accurate patient records reflecting the treatment, care, and medications administered. Proper medical codes are also necessary to guarantee correct payment to physicians for services rendered. Failure to reference the right code may lead to delay or even denial of payment.

Medical coding is a complex and specialized asset for all healthcare organizations, regardless of size or patient population.  Simply put, coding is the operational channel between coverage and payment. To ensure favorable and expeditious IVIG purchase reimbursement outcomes, you should employ an experienced medical coding service provider with a proven track record of quality and accuracy.

Estimating Your Reimbursement

When it comes to reimbursement, the only constant is change. In other words, reimbursement for the physician office and hospital outpatient facilities changes all the time. CMS provides reimbursement based on the Average Sales Price (ASP), which is calculated using manufacturer sales data. With fluctuating market conditions, new products emerging, and price shifts, it’s not surprising that reimbursement for some medication increases, while it decreases for others.

In addition to reviewing informative and updated resources such as CMS’s quarterly reimbursement drug file or ASP guides provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Resources, you need a trusted partner to answer your questions and ensure that you get the reimbursement that you deserve.

With so many factors to consider and effectively manage with ROI in mind. As a provider of this service, w,  contact us today to learn more. It’s not what you’re paying; it’s what you’re getting paid.

 

IV Infusion Companies – Your Guide to Finding the Best

The best IV infusion companies provide cost-effective infrastructure and high-quality patient care. As the demand for IVIV Infusion Companies infusion centers continues to grow, many physicians are clamoring to find the best company to collaborate with amid a seemingly endless list of options. Finding the best company to help you launch and sustain a successful IV infusion center requires research and careful vetting. The first step is identifying the pillars of service that ensure patient satisfaction and operational success.

Finding the Best IV Infusion Companies

Exceptional Patient Care. Let’s face it – high caliber patient care is paramount.  The first deliverable you should look for in IV infusion companies is how they play a role in staffing. Generally, physicians are bogged down with hiring, training, and paying their own clinicians in a self-managed model. Top notch IV infusion companies will provide clinically superior RN’s to staff the infusion center and administer care. Additionally, you want to partner with a company who provides personnel for sick and vacation coverage, guaranteeing that your center will always be fully staffed.

Care for your Practice. Feeling overwhelmed by the administrative demands of managing a practice? Superior IV infusion companies allow you to focus solely on your patients as they absorb the center’s core operational functions including:

  • Furnishing and instituting all policies and procedures for liability coverage
  • Providing RN case managers for precertification and authorization to ensure collections, sparing you the need to find and train an employee to oversee and document these critical transactions
  • Delivering all components of Human Resources with the cost being included in the management fee, as opposed to you incurring the ongoing exorbitant costs
  • Capitalizing on its large provider status and strong collective bargaining power to negotiate cost-effective terms with vendors and better J-codes and infusion codes on your behalf
  • Sharing clinical liability while boasting a lawsuit-free record, relieving the physician of assuming all liability
  • Producing detailed monthly financial reports for review, exempting the practice from additional accounting fees

Contemporary Products and Services.  A key trait to look for when finding the best IV infusion companies is their proven reputation for being up-to-date on the latest infusion therapy practices and state-of-the-art services. It’s important to collaborate with a company who regularly monitors and assesses potential products and payor contracts to ensure that the center is not only providing optimal care for its patients but also achieving financial success in the process.

No Hassle Billing. Additionally, the best IV infusion companies take pride in managing all time-sensitive and complex financial elements such as paying vendors within 15 days and monitoring and reconciling all bills and claims to achieve nearly debt-free standing. As all physicians in a busy practice know, time seldom permits for the persistent efforts needed to track and resolve problem claims. As a result, the profitability and overall health of the practice suffers. Only the best IV infusion company can remedy this common challenge and propel a practice to come out ahead.

Why Your Patients Deserve More

Your patients have enough on their plates. Between the financial and emotional adversity that they often face, coupled with the tedious and overwhelming nature of paperwork, billing, and endless appointments, they deserve only the best when it comes to care. Partnering with an esteemed IV infusion company will allow you to provide a positive and comfortable healthcare experience for your patients and their families.

If you are actively searching for the best IV infusion companies with whom to do business, look no further. Our turnkey solution eliminates the hassle and headache of starting from scratch by providing all the operational, staffing, and financial components needed to get started. If you already have an infusion center established and would like us to see if we can get you lower costs per gram and meet your unique needs, contact us today to learn more.