Word of the day

Monday, February 24

Pended Claim

An insurance term for claims that are missing information necessary for the insurer to make a coverage decision.

Friday, February 21

Service Area

The geographical region covered by in-network health care providers.

Thursday, February 20

Medicaid Expansion

The Affordable Care Act allows states to extend Medicaid benefits to eligible childless adults up to 133% of the federal poverty line.

Wednesday, February 19

Platinum Plan

The highest actuarial level health plans available through the insurance exchanges, equal to a 90 percent actuarial value. Bronze, Silver, and Gold plans offer lower actuarial values.

Tuesday, February 18

Outpatient Care

Care delivered in a hospital or clinic, but for which the patient is not required to stay more than 24 hours.

Friday, February 14

Integrated Provider (IP)

A group of health care providers and facilities that offer a wide range of services.

Thursday, February 13

Elder Justice Act

A Provision of the ACA designed to protect the elderly from being targets of physical or psychological harm within the health care system.

Wednesday, February 12

Long-Term Care (LTC)

Health care services required for an extended period of time by individuals unable to fully execute activities of daily living; it can be provided by a variety of agencies in outpatient settings as well as on an inpatient basis.

Tuesday, February 11

ADT

Admissions, discharges and transfers (as in ADT orders)

Monday, February 10

Medicare

A federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease. The government pays providers for each service a patient receives.

Chronic Disease

An illness or condition that will not improve or recurs periodically. Common examples include diabetes and asthma.