New Innovative Help for Consumers

October 1, 2009 -- Across the country families are paying more and getting less each year as they shoulder an ever growing share of healthcare costs rising three times faster than their paychecks, according to a new study from Families USA (Sept., 2009).  

In comparison, medical costs in Washington State are increasing five times faster than incomes, squeezing households more tightly than average.  Consumers want to find the best health plans, providers, and treatments at the lowest prices.  But the healthcare system does not make it easy.  

“The true turning point will come with the creation of a neutral third party organization to help consumers understand and navigate the healthcare system” (CFO, a periodical for business leaders, 2007).  The turning point is here.  

On October 1, Smart Health Decisions, a locally-owned company providing unbiased, expert support to healthcare consumers opens its downtown Vancouver offices at 211 East 11th Street, Suite 201.  The company is led by Patrice Korjenek, PhD., an internationally recognized health economist and former local health insurance executive.  Professional staff with decades of experience share practical, hands-on, in-the-trench knowledge about how the healthcare system works.  Their mission is to help consumers better understand and navigate the system, manage costs, and receive the healthcare best for them.

Smart Health Decisions combines the clinical, administrative, research, and financial expertise necessary to objectively address consumers’ healthcare concerns.  Consumers can get personalized assistance with health insurance: choosing individual, family, employer-sponsored and Medicare plans, understanding and using benefits wisely, knowing rights and responsibilities, appealing insurance decisions.  Staff familiar with provider reimbursement help consumers negotiate charges and manage medical bills.   Licensed clinicians are available to help clients select providers, better understand diagnoses and treatments, review and coordinate care, identify high quality and safe care, manage medications, arrange for home care, accompany consumers on provider visits or check-in on patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and foster care.  

The company offers assistance understanding and completing healthcare paperwork such as medical care directives, and can help find the latest research on a healthcare topic, the location of clinical trials, or where to get the best treatment abroad.  In addition, Smart Health Decisions offers small group workshops and a website (www.SmartHealthDecisions.com) full of facts and practical tips about healthcare and insurance to help consumers learn what they need to know to make smart health decisions.  There is no other organization in the region that offers consumers the independent, comprehensive healthcare assistance Smart Health Decisions provides.