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Home  Georgia Health & Medical


Health & Medical
Doctors & Health Care (Click HERE For Free or Low Cost Help For The Uninsured)
Medical Bills
Medicine & Treatments
Insurance & Benefits (Includes Medicaid & SSI)
Medical Directives/Living Wills


Related Topics
Children
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Insurance
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Seniors
State Licensing Boards
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Doctors & Health Care

Doctors Managed Care (HMOs, Hospitals, etc.)
Medical Bills Rules, Regulations & Complaints

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Medicines & Treatments

Traditional (Includes Free Medicines & Treatments) Medicine Recalls
Alternative

Clinical Trials

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Insurance & Benefits

Health & Life Workers Compensation
Medicare/Medicaid Insurance Regulations & Complaints
Social Security Where Else To Go For Help   

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Managed Care (HMOs, PPOs, etc.)
Choosing A Health Plan
Getting Top Care/Complaints
Where Else To Go For Help (GA & National)

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Choosing A Health Plan
There are many things to consider when choosing a health plan.  Some of these include, the plan's comprehensiveness, i.e. what it covers, the cost of this coverage, the limits on your choice of doctors or hospitals and the complaint record of each provider.

FAQs, Tips & Advice
Profiles For Health Plans, Doctors & Hospitals

Referral Agencies
 

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FAQs, Tips & Advice

Choosing Quality Medical Care (Tips)

The Ten Commandments for HMOs 
A list of questions consumers should ask when choosing a HMOs. 

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Health Plan, Doctor & Hospital Profiles

Best Hospitals Near Atlanta (U.S. News)

Best Hospitals Nationwide-Choose City and State (U.S. News)
Search thousands of hospitals across the country by various medical specialties, procedures or conditions.Then choose a doctor who has privileges there.

www.healthgrades.com

Free profiles on 600,000 doctors, 5,000 hospitals, 400 health plans, 17,000 nursing homes and more.  Learn about the doctor's  specialties, years in practice, instances of misconduct, and ratings by their patients.

American Hospital Directory
The site will provide a detailed report on the hospital's characteristics, financial reports, costs, and specialties. This directory can be searched by hospital name, city, state, area code and zip code. Click on the icon for "free services", and to gain entry to the sections accept the liability statement. 

United Way Help Line 
(For All 50 States, DC & Puerto Rico)
Choose your state, select your city, and look up help agencies galore!!! Their stellar search engine can lead you to any social service topic you can think of.  Just type in the words "Health" and either "Managed Care" or "HMO".

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Referral Agencies

Georgia Health Resources (Google)
Government Agencies. Georgia Health Associations & Non-profits.

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Getting Top Care/Complaints
FAQs, Tips & Advice
Where To Get Help
(Patient Advocates)

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FAQs, Tips & Advice

Tips On Appealing Health Care Coverage Denials (Georgia)

10 Ways To Avoid Outrageous Hospital Overcharges (Google)
Profit-hungry hospitals are overcharging consumers an estimated
$10 billion a year. Some deliberately work to keep bills indecipherable.
Here's how to fight back.

Health Care Oversight: Who To Call To Make Them Publicly Accountable (Google)
The government agencies to call for help and to expose shady practices. For best results, add your state.   

Fighting Insurance Companies When They Deny Your Claim (Google)
How to protect yourself, establish contacts, gather allies and write your appeals and grievance letters.

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Where To Get Help (Advocates)

Low Cost Medical Help For The Uninsured (GA Only)

Where To Report A Complaint Against Your Health Care Provider (All 50 States & DC)

Keeping Your Medical Records Private
Know what protections and rights you have and what you can do if you believe they have been violated.

Rules, Regulations & Complaints (Consumer-SOS)

Patient Advocacy Links
Scroll down the page for organizations that can help you in your battle against your provider.

Find Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations (See Index up top and then choose your state)
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously. Select Texas, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to report to.

Where Else To Go For Help  


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Doctors
Finding & Choosing (includes Free Help)
Talking To Your Doctor
Complaints

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Finding & Choosing
FAQs Tips & Advice
Finding By Specialty
Doctor Profiles & Credentials
Free or Low Cost Medical Help For The GA Uninsured

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FAQs Tips & Advice

Low Cost Medical Help For The Uninsured (GA Only)

Choosing A Doctor (General Tips)
For a checklist of what to consider, click Here

Other Helpful Links (Consumer-SOS)
Relating to help for the poor, doctor accountability and patient education.

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Finding By Specialty

Certified Doctor Locator Service (All 50 States & DC)
To locate a board certified physician by geographic area and specialty.

AMA Physician Select
Look up physicians by name or by state and medical specialty to find their address, educational background, gender, and specialty.

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Doctor Profiles & Credentials

www.healthgrades.com
Free profiles on 600,000 doctors, 5,000 hospitals, 400 health plans, 17,000 nursing homes and more.  Learn about the doctor's  specialties, years in practice, instances of misconduct, and ratings by their patients.

Verifying If A Doctor's Been Disciplined (Consumer-SOS)
Check your state's medical licensing board to see if your doctor has been disciplined. This is also where you can file complaints.

Profiles For Health Plans, Doctors & Hospitals (Consumer-SOS)
Having good doctors is not enough. To have access to the latest equipment, make sure they have privileges to work in the best hospitals.

The American Board Of Medical Specialties
 
Details on who treats what and to find out whether the doctor has been disciplined. To see if your doctor has lost any malpractice suits, check the local courts.

Compare Doctors and Hospitals-Medicare.gov (All 50 States & DC)
See left index to compare and rate Hospices, Home Heath Services, In Patient Rehab, Doctors, Hospitals, Medical Equipment Suppliers, Nursing Homes and more. Type in your Zip Code, and you can compare the ratings and services of at least two facilities at once! 


Other Helpful Links (Consumer-SOS)
Relating to help for the poor, doctor accountability and patient education.

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Talking To Your Doctor

What To Ask & Tell Your Doctor (Consumer-SOS)
Basics on preparing for your meeting, writing things down and getting feedback from your doctor.

What To Ask Your Doctor Before Office Surgery (Google)

Getting Top Care From Your Doctor
What to ask about your condition, treatments, tests and more.

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Medical Bills
To Reduce Current and Future Medical Bills, use these resources to:

  • Find Low Cost Clinics or Get Needed Treatment
  • Dispute Billing Overcharges
  • Fight Insurance Companies that Deny Your Claims
  • Negotiate Amount of Your Medical Bills
  • Find Help To Pay Your Bills (Grants, Charities, Gov Assistance...)
     

Free or Low Cost Clinics For Medical, Dental, Vision, Mental Health and Pharmacy Services (Consumer-SOS)
These are free or low cost clinics that require payment based on your ability to pay.

Help To Pay Your Medical Bills (Consumer-SOS)
Find the government, non profit groups and foundations that help people with paying their medical bills.  Some of these are earmarked for specific conditions such as cancer or kidney problems, others just help anyone who financially qualifies.

OneNeed.org (GA Only)
Needs vary but could include $ for car repair, rent/mortgage, buying a car, utilities and medical bills. One Need works with local churches and all needs start and end with our local church partners. If you have a need please click SUBMIT A NEED here.

10 Ways To Avoid Outrageous Hospital Overcharges (Google)
Profit-hungry hospitals are overcharging consumers an estimated
$10 billion a year. Some deliberately work to keep bills indecipherable.
Here's how to fight back.

Fighting Insurance Companies When They Deny Your Claim (Google)
How to protect yourself, establish contacts, gather allies and write your appeals and grievance letters.

Medical Billing Advocates To Help Cut Down Healthcare Costs (Consumer-SOS)
Billing advocates negotiate with healthcare providers and insurance companies to lower your medical bills, or increase what they'll pay for your expenses. Savings can be in the thousands of dollars. Some charge by the hour, others bill based on what they saved you in costs. Some may even be free.

Low Cost Medical Help For The Poor or Uninsured (Consumer-SOS)
Prescription help, low cost clinics, low cost health insurance,

Patient Advocacy Links (Google)

United Way Help Line  (For All 50 States, DC & Puerto Rico)
Choose your state, select your city, and look up help agencies galore!!! Their stellar search engine can lead you to any social service topic you can think of.  Just type in the words "medical bills" and "assistance"

Help To Pay Your Medical Bills (Consumer-SOS)
If an organization can't help you, don't get off the phone until you've asked them:
DO YOU KNOW OF OTHER GROUPS THAT CAN? Also ask, If you were in my situation, what would you do? Who would you call? What should i do next?

NeedHelpPayingmyBills (State By State Assistance) 
To help pay medical bills, taxes, rent and mortgage help, etc.

Patient Advocacy Foundation
Shows public and non profit groups that can help the patient navigate their access to healthcare, deal with the financial cost of treatment, gather options for future health insurance coverage and work to effectively manage and decrease costs while seeking medical care.They are dedicated to helping patients with chronic, debilitating or life-threatening illnesses.

DHS Emergency Medical Bill Assistance (Georgia)

Obesity-Financial Assistance (Google)

People meeting the financial need and medical requirements can apply for assistance towards medical expenses such as insurance deductibles or partial payment for approved surgeries and other medical treatment. Financial Assistance may also be available in the form of discounts on treatment costs from accredited physicians around the country.

Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America (WLSFA) (503) 847-9843
Steps to qualify for a grant for weight loss surgery. May not even require you have insurance.

Cancer Bills
A list of the various funds foundations and grants to help pay cancer bills.

Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief  (866) 512-3861
Helps with medical bills incurred from chronic pain, various types of cancer, osteoporosis, hepatitis and other medical conditions.   

Good Days (877) 968-7233 (Formerly The Chronic Disease Fund)
Currently supports patients with more than two dozen different diseases, including many types of cancer (breast, colorectal, lung cancer, and multiple myeloma), multiple sclerosis, asthma, and macular degeneration, to name a few.  They can assist patients across the United States with either private or public insurance who financially qualify but cannot afford the cost of their specialty therapeutics.

Healthwell Foundation (800) 675-8416
Assists patients living with chronic and life-altering illnesses in paying their share of prescription drug copayments, deductibles, and health insurance premiums.

Patents Access Network Foundation 1-866-316-7263
Aids, some Arthritis, Asthma, Acromegaly, Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Macular Diseases, to name a few.

Kidney Cancer Association-Financial Assistance

Medical Bills Foundations (Google Search)
For specific programs you can add in your state, i.e. New York

GuideStar Medical Assistance
Use search box to find non-profits that pay medical bills. Can also narrow to your state.

 

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Medical Billing Advocates
Billing advocates negotiate with healthcare providers and insurance companies to lower your medical bills, or increase what they'll pay for your expenses. Savings can be in the thousands of dollars. Some charge by the hour, others bill based on what they saved you in costs. Some may even be free.

GeorgiaCares 800-669-8387
Free help for Seniors to sort through medical bills and file medical claims. Also provides seniors with health insurance counseling and assistance and referral.

The Patient Advocate Foundation
Negotiates medical bills and insurance for those with chronic, debilitating and life-threatening conditions.

Medical Billing Advocates of America
Online directory of more than 30 services around the country that specialize in individual cases. Has patient guide for detecting overcharges, billing errors and insurance underpayments.

For more help Google Medical Billing Advocates (and the name of your state or city).

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Rules, Regulations & Complaints

Summary Of Medical Malpractice Laws
(DC & All 50 States)
Excellent!!!

Keeping Your Medical Records Private
Know what protections and rights you have and what you can do if you believe they have been violated.

Complaints Against Doctors, Health Plans, Insurers & More (Consumer-SOS)


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Complaints

Complaints Against Your Doctor  (Consumer-SOS)
May include nurses and other healthcare workers too.

Complaints Against Your Health Plan  (Consumer-SOS)
Takes you to Getting Top Care/Complaints.

Insurance Related Complaints (Consumer-SOS)
Takes you to Consumer-SOS/Insurance for where to complaint to, insurance regulators and where to get help for almost every insurance issue.

Report Adverse Reactions & Medical Product
Problems To the FDA
                                       
Find Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously. Select Texas, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to report to. (DC Not Included).

Patient Advocacy Links

Where Else To Go For Help  

For More See Occupational Licensing Boards

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Complaints Against Your Doctor

*EMS Rules and Regulations In GA
These rules establish standards for ambulance services, medical first responder services, neonatal transport services, designation of trauma centers and base station facilities, training and certification requirements for medics, instructor certification and approval requirements for emergency medical technician, cardiac technician and paramedic training programs, and others.

Medical Licensing Boards  (Consumer-SOS)
Check the medical licensing boards in your state to learn if your doctor has been disciplined, or what rules he must abide by. You can also lodge a complaint against the doctor yourself.

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