Navigating A Loved One's Care Needs During COVID19
What happens if your loved one’s has doctor's appointments, or just overall medical concerns/issues not related to COVID? I'm going to go over some suggestions to help you assist your loved ones to possibly get the care that they need while we deal with this pandemic while also minimizing their need to go out in public.
TELEHEALTH VISITS
Do you have a smartphone or old tablet lying around that's not currently in use? Telehealth visits are being offered which is just like going to the doctor but utilizing an audio/visual based format. CMS recently issued a temporary guidance that allows providers to bill for services using telemedicine visits.
DATA USAGE PROVIDERS
Speaking of smartphones, data can be very expensive and at present with so many undergoing financial stressors due to the economical impact of COVID 19, why not consider contacting your cell phone/data service provider to see if they would be open to FREE temporary usage or a reduction in your monthly fees? It doesn't hurt to ask.
TELEPHONIC VISITS
Worried about your loved one’s ability to navigate a smartphone or similar device? Consider asking your loved one's provider if they are open to telephonic visits. Due to COVID 19, CMS aka Center for Medicare and Medicaid services allows medical providers such as MDs, PAs, LCSW (clinical social workers) and other health care professionals to bill for services utilizing phone visits to address medical concerns/follow up.
VISITING MEDICAL PROVIDERS
Call your loved one's health care insurance carrier and find out if there is a provider that the insurance is in-network with that may be conducting home visits at this time. Many health care insurances offer a set of providers that are a part of a transitional care team designated to help patients dealing with chronic illness who may have recently been hospitalized. It's designed to promote continuity of care and to avoid unnecessary trips to the ER. Call your insurance carrier to see if this is a program that may be available to your loved one.
COVID 19 has caused a complete shift in the lives of everyone and we must recognize these changes and learn to adapt to this current situation so that our loved ones aren't forgotten in the process.