Bellingham Patient Navigator

04/29/2026

🏥 As of April 1, hospitals face stronger federal penalties for not posting their prices, with civil monetary fines now up to $5,550 a day for the largest hospitals.

The rule is simple: every hospital must publish both its cash prices and its insurance-negotiated rates as a machine-readable file on its website.

Most patients never look.

One ER visit for stitches at the same hospital: $5,805 insurance-negotiated rate vs. $256.84 cash price. The CPT code was identical.

That case comes from journalist Marshall Allen, who spent his career reporting on hospital billing before he passed in 2024.

The first move on any hospital bill is to request the itemized version, which HIPAA gives the hospital 30 days to deliver.

Then check each CPT code against FairHealthConsumer webiste for what insurers actually pay in your zip.

If the hospital is nonprofit (about 60% in the U.S. are), they're required by IRS Section 501(r) to have a financial assistance policy, often covering incomes well above the federal poverty level.

01/03/2026

Denied by insurance?

11/20/2025

Love this advice from Dr Dessy, PT; When loved ones hide their pain/ vulnerabilities.. It might be to protect what matters to them. Borrow from palliative care’s what-matters-most framework:
1. Separate disclosure from threat
2. Reframe intervention as protection of identity
3. Give families dignity-preserving language
4. Measure wins in life, not metrics
https://www.linkedin.com/in/askdrdessy/recent-activity/all/
Here’s what happens when you change your approach:

Mom starts sharing her struggles.

“The bathroom light burned out, made it hard to see.”

“My slippers are getting slippery.”

“I’ve been dizzy in the mornings.”

“My legs give out on me sometimes.”

Problems get solved before they become emergencies.

Trust builds instead of breaks.

Independence lasts longer.

The moment they feel judged, they shut down.

The same love that kills can save.

Stop killing them with kindness.

Start saving them with conversation.

10/14/2025

ADVOCATE for yourself. It doesn't need to be hard, professionalized or jargony:
• What’s my diagnosis? (What is my problem? What do I have?) the “medical name”, and then for a “regular way” to describe it.
• What else could it be?
• Anything else?
• How serious is this condition? On a 1-5 scale with “1”being “No worries, easy to treat/cure/live with” and a “5” meaning it’s life threatening and must be treated immediately.”
• Why? What is your reasoning?
• How would you treat me for this condition?
• What other ways are used to treat this condition?
• What are the benefits of each way to treat this condition?
• What are the risks or complications for each way to treat my condition?
• How common are the risks and complications?
• What are the immediate, medium-term, and long-term side effects?
• Are there other discomforts associated with the treatments?
• Are these permanent or temporary?
• How can these discomforts be treated?
• How long will treatment last?
• How long before I can get back to my normal activities?
• What are my costs?

07/15/2024

I love this keep in mind that the landscape changes frequently but this is some good basic information that we can all benefit from. Read it to benefit yourself or someone you love.

Advocate, Nichole Davis, has a new book release "Patient Advocacy for Dummies". See pre-order options here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRmjAyWC6TiRY3YoHUm751DjoW6TUjaMp5OMm6w-W5hM7z9g/viewform

05/31/2024

Thanks doctor T for this sound advice for your appointment

Think of your doctor appointments as doctor meetings. This subtle shift in thinking makes a difference! Follow these simple steps for good communication between you and your doctor. Start by creating a written agenda for meeting with your doctor.

02/06/2024

RICE for injury is out dated. It's PEACE and LOVE

01/24/2024

https://marshallallen.substack.com/p/preying-on-grandma
Have you heard of Medicare patients getting balance bills?
Call the bogus biller and press them to drop the bill
You want to signal in a non-confrontational manner that you know your stuff.

A Medicare patient gets a surprise bill for almost $15,000. Two phone calls cleared it up.

01/04/2024

https://www.vox.com/23972648/hospice-dementia-rosalynn-carter-jimmy
Don't be afraid of having conversations with your loved ones about what their wishes, goals, and values are as it pertains to their illness,' or how they’d want to live their lives if they were diagnosed with a serious illness.

And if they’re in the midst of a serious illness, they should ask for a palliative care consult, said Marcantonio. People sometimes misunderstand palliative care as 'giving up,' said Farrand, but both palliative care and hospice involve 'aggressively ensuring that your quality of life is what you want it to be — that you can live the best you can, even while living with a serious illness,' she said.

'If anything, it’s the absolute opposite of the idea of giving up.'"Don’t

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have drawn attention to the benefits of hospice care. But it’s not serving everyone well.

01/03/2024

You know these tips, but do you follow through? New year is for intentions..

Check-Up Check-In: Schedule that annual check-up to catch issues early.
Move & Groove: Find joy in movement—dance, walk, yoga, anything that gets you going!
Color Your Plate: Fuel with vibrant, nutrient-rich foods for a healthier you.
Sunshine Boost: Take short breaks outdoors to soak in mood-boosting vitamin D.
Healthy Habits Only: Kick out habits that don't serve you well for a happier lifestyle

01/02/2024

Bring your questions, a Second set of ears, An advocate and TRUST what you know. ALSO organize your thoughts ahead of time, make a prioritized list. The visit is short, make the most of it AND get what you need from your provider.

12/17/2023

https://www.bottomlineinc.com/health/food/inflammation-friend-and-foe

Inflammation. The slow burn inside our arterial walls is the root cause of many of the chronic and debilitating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that