What is Wellness?
Definition: A dynamic state of physical, mental, and social well-being; a way of life which equips the individual to realize the full potential of his/her capabilities and to overcome and compensate for weaknesses; a lifestyle which recognizes the importance of nutrition, physical fitness, stress reduction, and self-responsibility.
Wellness has been viewed as the result of four key factors over which an individual has varying degrees of control: human biology, environment, health care organization and lifestyle. Preventive medicine associated with lifestyle and preventive care that can reduce health- care utilization and costs.
"Wellness" programs became popular with the advent of managed care in the 1980s, with the philosophy and business idea that health plans needed to emphasize keeping their beneficiaries well.
However, there has been a drop off in these programs in the 1990s as health plans recognize the difficulty in assessing efficacy and they found that subscribers tend to change plans regularly, thus reducing benefit of keeping one population "well".
What is Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)?
Definition: The automated exchange of data and documents in a standardized format. In health care, some common uses of this technology include claims submission and payment, eligibility, and referral authorization. Refers to the exchange of routine business transactions from one computer to another in a standard format, using standard communications protocols.
What is Medicaid?
Definition: A joint Federal and State program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
The reach of telehealth continues to grow.
Check out:
Telehealth aims to improve health services in underserved areas
Mobile health care is here to stay . . .
Might Medicare be ready to reimburse for mobile care?
Barriers to telehealth services are being removed; even by Medicare
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