Types of Health Advocacy?

Review of medical billing and charges to ensure accuracy in billing.

• Seek billing reduction and/or negotiation
• Resolve billing errors

Some advocates specialize in navigating in cancer, cancer-related issues, specific cancer types (like brain cancer) and/or helping clients find and participate in cancer research.

• Helping clients understand and plan for transitions and end of life
  • Advanced care directives
  • Burial/cremation
  • Hospice services

Assisting clients in ways that further personal health goals and ensure better health outcomes through preventative measures.

• Identify sources of coverage for people without insurance 
• Confirm and decipher coverage for those with insurance coverage, including
  • ​Medical Benefits
  • Pharmacy Benefits
  • Vision Benefits
  • Medicare Benefits and Supplements
  • Home Health and Rehabilitation Coverage
  • Social Security
  • Veterans Benefits
• Explain patient costs such as co-pays and coinsurance
• Facilitate research for appropriate in-network providers and clarify out-of-network options and costs
• Advise on denials and appeals processes
• Help with choosing health plans, Long Term Care plan or COBRA (continuation of benefits)
• Investigate additional benefits available such as private or employer-provided disability or long-term care insurance
• Exploring appropriate Wellness benefits:
  • ​Preventive Care
  • Alternative Care
  • Member Discounts
  • Use of Advice Lines
  • Hearing Aids and Screening

An advocate can serve as a health care proxy (medical decision-making surrogate) to make decisions for when someone is unable to make decisions for themselves;  a health care proxy is named in a durable power of attorney for healthcare and needs to be evaluated whether the person can serve in that role.

Typically includes interacting with healthcare professionals, attending appointments, medical translation, appointment setting and coordination, asserting client’s patient rights, communication, identification of medical/health resources, etc. 

• Help patients understand their diagnosis and learn more about their condition
• Translate complicated medical information for family members
• Research treatment options
• Coordinate care between various physicians
• Provide regular contact with patient to evaluate condition and advocate for appropriate care with providers
• Assist with transitions including hospital admissions, stay and discharge; transfer to another facility, care center or home
• Coordinate outpatient care
• Help with understanding and managing chronic disease
• Establish contact with Social Service Programs and Eldercare
• Act as liaison between patient and with providers regarding wishes for hospice
• Referrals to appropriate resources as needed
• Assist with communications with providers, family members at client’s patient’s direction

• Managing stressful, serious, and/or chronic health conditions
• Issues related to controlled substances
• Working with behavior health challenges that make communication difficult 

• Housing
• Home care or support
• Transport
• Meals/nutrition
• Treatment plan assistance i.e. medications, lifestyle changes
• Financial

Helping clients ensure that their pain is managed appropriately, whether short-term, long-term, and at the end of life​.

Working with families whose children need support in navigating various aspects of the health care system.

• Transitions in/out of hospital, assisted living, skilled nursing, nursing home, adult family home, or other placement, including home with or without care