Health Advocacy: Health Dialogues | The California Report

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About Health Dialogues

Health Dialogues is a special series from KQED's "The California Report" that facilitates an ongoing discussion of California health care issues that are important to the underserved: children, low-income residents, minorities, and people with disabilities to name just a few.

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Health Advocacy

Navigating the health care system challenges a family in the best of times. But, what if your family isn't around, or doesn't have the time to monitor your care? That's where the growing business of patient advocacy steps in, providing competent oversight to prevent medical mistakes and even save lives. Join the November edition of Health Dialogues as we discuss the growing trend of patient advocacy.

Different Types of Patient Advocacy

We explore the various types of patient advocacy, including non-profit, for-profit and government-run. We also hear from people who've had problems with their health care, and talk with the head of the leading non-profit patient assistance organization in the country. Guest: Nancy Davenport Ennis, co-founder, CEO and president of Patient Advocate Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to eliminate obstacles to access for quality health care .

The Cost of Patient Advocacy

As patients are asked to get more involved in their own health care, there is a growing trend of for-profit patient advocacy businesses. These companies act as hired guns to challenge an insurer's denial of treatment or billing disputes. Reporter: Sarah Varney

The Industry Weighs In

We talk with representatives of both the health advocacy and health insurance industries about their business. The reality is that insurance does not cover everything -- even if patients want it to -- and the overwhelming majority of consumers do not have problems with their insurers. Guest: Chris Ohman, president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, a statewide trade association representing 40 public and private health care plans that provide coverage to more than 21 million Californians . Guest: Dr. Abbie Leibowitz, co-founder, chief medical officer and EVP of Health Advocate, Inc, the nation's leading health care advocacy and assistance company .

The HMO Help Line

Did you know the State of California will help you resolve an issue with your health insurer? We talk with the head of the Department of Managed Health Care, which runs a health care help center that reviews cases brought to it by the public. Guest: Cindy Ehnes, director of the California Department of Managed Health Care .

Innovations in Health Care -- Self-Advocacy and Health 2.0

In our continuing coverage of innovations in thinking about and dealing with health care, we talk with a major player in Health 2.0 -- a social media health movement. Guest: Amy Tenderich, health and diabetes consultant, writer and founder of the blog DiabetesMine.com.

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