Her talk, “Matter of the Heart: Humanism in Practice” made a compelling argument for returning humanism to the center of medical care.

Listen to the podcast (Length 1:07:45) (This will open your computer’s default media player in a new window)

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The goal of the RAC is to identify improper payments made on claims of health care services provided to Medicare beneficiaries.  Improper payments may be overpayments or underpayments.

• Overpayments can occur when health care providers submit claims that do not meet Medicare’s coding or medical necessity policies.
• Underpayments can occur when health care providers submit claims for a simple procedure but the medical record reveals that a more complicated procedure was actually performed.

Health care providers that might be reviewed include hospitals, physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, durable medical equipment suppliers and any other provider or supplier that bills Medicare Parts A and B.

Presenters included representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Diversified Collection Services Inc., the contractor for the RAC program in New England.

Listen to the Question & Answer Session:

Answers were provided by Ebony Brandon and Gia Lawrence from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Catherine Till from Diversified Collection Services.

Listen to the podcast (Length 36:17) (This will open your computer's default media player in a new window)

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What are the effects on patients who suffer such conditions? How are rehabilitation programs developed? What can patients expect in undergoing such regimens? How do physicians go about treating these patients and restoring them back to health?  And what are the main health concerns of people with disabilities?

Guests: Edward Phillips, M.D., Director, Outpatient Medical Services, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital; Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School and Carina O’Neill, D.O., Medical Director, Spaulding Rehabilitation Center-Braintree; Instructor, Harvard Medical School

Host: Bruce Karlin, M.D

Co-produced with Hopkinton Community Access Television, HCAM-TV, Hopkinton Mass.

Listen to the podcast (Length 26:22) (This will open your computer's default media player in a new window)

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Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease and cancer, and is the number one cause of adult disability. Each year about 700,000 people suffer a stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A stroke can cause paralysis, speech problems, loss of sensation, difficulties with thinking and memory, coma, and even death. Recovery can be long and is often incomplete, creating great burden on loved ones as well as patients.

What, exactly, is a stroke and can it be prevented? What are the risk factors for stroke and how can they be reduced? What are the signs of a stroke? What should you do if you think someone is having a stroke? And what are the health implications for someone who has had a stroke?

Guests: Gigi Girgis, M.D., President, Massachusetts Neurologic Association; Staff Neurologist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Needham, Thomas Mullins, M.D., Neurologist, Fallon Clinic Worcester; Past President, Massachusetts Neurologic Association

Co-produced with Hopkinton Community Access Television, HCAM-TV, Hopkinton Mass.

Listen to the podcast (Length 14:53) (This will open your computer's default media player in a new window)

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Listen to the podcast (Length 12:29) (This will open your computer’s default media player in a new window)