Health Plan Denials and Appeals

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
Sandra Schwartz ◽  
Janet McCarty

Abstract Challenging health plan denials for voice treatment through appeals or advocacy efforts can pay off. This article describes the process of obtaining authorization for voice therapy, filing claims, establishing goals, preparing needed documentation, appealing claims through various levels including independent review, and developing an advocacy campaign if coverage is not offered or is very limited.

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 74-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Towey

“America’s high schools are obsolete […] designed 50 years ago to meet the needs of another age.” – Bill Gates, National Governors’ Conference, 2005. Obsolete and designed for another time—the same could be said for our existing health care system, treatment approaches, and service delivery models. The emergence of outcome-based payment by Accountable Care Organizations, severe restrictions in funding, and limited or absent insurance coverage for voice treatment are powerful drivers for more effective voice therapy treatment. Findings reported from the Voice and Swallowing Center of Maine support significant cost reductions to payers when telepractice is used in voice treatment (Towey, 2012a). This article describes three distinct applications of voice telepractice that expands conventional thinking about voice therapy and voice therapy telepractice. It is believed these presented cases are the first published examples that demonstrate the efficacy of voice telepractice to: (1) assess and fit a device for a laryngectomee; (2) complete virtual musculoskeletal assessment of a voice patient; and (3) provide virtual simultaneous co-treatment in voice therapy.


Author(s):  
Bernhard Lehnert ◽  
Manfred Nusseck ◽  
Fei Lu ◽  
Annerose Keilmann

Abstract Purpose Observational study to determine if the voice-related self-concept as measured via the Fragebogen zur Erfassung des Stimmlichen Selbstkonzepts FESS (questionnaire for the assessment of the voice self-concept) can be improved through in-patient voice therapy. Methods 234 female and 80 male patients that underwent an intensive 3- to 4-week in-patient voice treatment due to varying types of dysphonia. After imputation of missing items but not missing questionnaires, 255 patients were eligible for FESS evaluation, 313 for VHI-12 evaluation. The German questionnaire for the assessment of the voice self-concept (FESS) and the German 12-item short-form of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-12) were administered at the beginning and at the end of the hospital stay. Before–after comparisons are made visually and via t test. Results The Voice Handicap was significantly reduced, demonstrating the effectiveness of the administered therapy. Of the three scales of the FESS, the relationship with one's own voice and the awareness of the use of one's own voice was increased and thus improved. The connection between voice and emotional changes decreased significantly but only slightly. Conclusion Conservative voice rehabilitation can not only reduce the voice handicap, but also improve the voice self-concept and the results can be measured.


2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-557
Author(s):  
Alice Estevo Dias ◽  
Hsin Fen Chien ◽  
Egberto Reis Barbosa

As alterações da fala (disfonia e disartria) frequentemente acompanham a evolução da doença de Parkinson (DP). Objetivo. Este estudo revisa o Método Lee Silverman, considerado o mais eficiente para a reabilitação das alterações da fala na DP e atualiza os avanços na sua aplicação. Método. Foi realizada uma pesquisa nas bases de dados MEDLINE, Pubmed e Bireme dos artigos indexados publicados de 1990 a 2010, com as seguintes palavras-chave: Parkinson’s disease, PD, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, LSVT, LSVT LOUD, LSVT parkinson, voice treatment and PD, voice therapy and PD, communication and PD, dysarthria and PD, dysphonia and PD, speech disorders and PD, voice disorders and PD, hypophonia and PD, speech motor system and PD. Resultados. Na literatura, existe ampla descrição dos resultados de estudos do método Lee Silverman na DP. Os artigos encontrados evidenciam melhora da prosódia, articulação, ressonância, respiração, inteligibilidade, intensidade e qualidade da voz, assim como da deglutição e da expressividade facial. Conclusões. Para a reabilitação da fala dispõe-se de eficientes técnicas fonoaudiológicas. Contudo, conforme a literatura científica, o emprego do Método Lee Silverman é opção vantajosa, pois foi desenvolvido especificamente para a DP. Há inúmeras evidências de sua eficácia e vem sendo continuamente avaliado, ampliando sua aplicabilidade.


Author(s):  
Jarrad H. Van Stan ◽  
John Whyte ◽  
Joseph R. Duffy ◽  
Julie Barkmeier-Kraemer ◽  
Patricia Doyle ◽  
...  

Purpose Clinical trials have demonstrated that standardized voice treatment programs are effective for some patients, but identifying the unique individual treatment ingredients specifically responsible for observed improvements remains elusive. To address this problem, the authors used a taxonomy of voice therapy, the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS), and a Delphi process to develop the RTSS-Voice (expert consensus categories of measurable and unique voice treatment ingredients and targets). Method Initial targets and ingredients were derived from a taxonomy of voice therapy. Through six Delphi Rounds, 10 vocal rehabilitation experts rated the measurability and uniqueness of individual treatment targets and ingredients. After each round, revisions (guided by the experts' feedback) were finalized among a primary reader (a voice therapy expert) and two external readers (rehabilitation experts outside the field of voice). Consensus was established when the label and definition of an ingredient or target reached a supramajority threshold (≥ 8 of 10 expert agreement). Results Thirty-five target and 19 ingredient categories were agreed to be measurable, unique, and accurate reflections of the rules and terminology of the RTSS. Operational definitions for each category included differences in the way ingredients are delivered and the way individual targets are modified by those ingredients. Conclusions The consensus labels and operationalized ingredients and targets making up the RTSS-Voice have potential to improve voice therapy research, practice, and education/training. The methods used to develop these lists may be useful for other speech, language, and hearing treatment specifications. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.15243357


1984 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Q. Miller ◽  
Charles L. Madison

In 10 years of semiannual voice clinics held in a metropolitan school district, 249 cases were reviewed. Attending otolaryngologists diagnosed vocal nodules in 40% of the cases. Chronic laryngitis and thickened cords were also frequently noted. One third of the cases had concomitant allergies, ear, and/or upper respiratory problems. Direct voice therapy was recommended for 65% of those attending voice clinics. The data on sex and age were consistent with previous research. Family voice history and prognosis are also discussed.


1984 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moya L. Andrews ◽  
Sarah J. Tardy ◽  
Lisa G. Pasternak
Keyword(s):  

This paper presents an approach to voice therapy programming for young children who are hypernasal. Some general principles underlying the approach are presented and discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 814-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie E. Smith ◽  
Ruth Huntley Bahr ◽  
Hector N. Hernandez

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the attendance and success rates for seniors in voice therapy, identify any contributing patient-related factors, and compare results to existing findings for younger patients. Method This retrospective study included information from the voice records of 50 seniors seen by the same speech-language pathologist in a private practice. Analysis of attendance and outcome data divided participants into 6 groups. Outcomes for Groups 1–3 (64% of patients) were considered successful (positive voice change), while outcomes for Groups 4–6 (36% of patients) were considered unsuccessful. These data were compared to similar data collected for younger adults in a previous study. Results The attendance and success rates for seniors in this study were higher than those previously reported for younger patients. Further consideration of patient factors revealed that reports of increased stress, Reflux Symptom Index scores > 13, and higher Voice Handicap Index functional subscale scores were significant in distinguishing between patients in the successful and unsuccessful treatment outcome groups. Conclusions The relatively high attendance and success rates among this sample of seniors suggest the desire to achieve voice improvement does not diminish with age, and chances for success in voice therapy among nonfrail seniors may be greater than for younger patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-482
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Schneider

PurposeVocal fold motion impairment (VFMI) can be the result of iatrogenic or traumatic injury or may be idiopathic in nature. It can result in glottic incompetence leading to changes in vocal quality and ease. Associated voice complaints may include breathiness, roughness, diplophonia, reduced vocal intensity, feeling out of breath with talking, and vocal fatigue with voice use. A comprehensive interprofessional voice evaluation includes auditory-perceptual voice evaluation, laryngeal examination including videostroboscopy, acoustic and aerodynamic voice measures. These components provide valuable insight into laryngeal structure and function and individual voice use patterns and, in conjunction with stimulability testing, help identify candidacy for voice therapy and choice of therapeutic techniques.ConclusionA comprehensive, interprofessional evaluation of patients with VFMI is necessary to assess the role of voice therapy and develop a treatment plan. Although there is no efficacy data to support specific voice therapy techniques for treating VFMI, considerations for various techniques are provided.


2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-11
Author(s):  
Lorraine Ramig ◽  
Cynthia Fox

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