Brimhall Logo
- 0 Items
1-866-338-4883


                Ooops, sorry the page you requested is not existing

               
Are you looking for:
June 10 2013 - Save YOU and YOUR Patients MONEY



Adjusting
Equipment





Lasers





PEMF
Machines



Foot
Baths



Brimhall.com

June 10, 2013 Puzzle Piece

Save YOU and YOUR Patients MONEY

Medical expenses are one of the largest expenses in many United States households. Medical bills and insurance remittance are also possibly the most difficult of all bills for patients to interpret and understand.

Of course, this lack of understanding often has a negative impact on many things, such as: provider/patient relationship, provider or practice reputation, patients discontinuing care and possibly even legal ramifications for the practice if errors or fraud are suspected or discovered as well as many other serious possible issues.

In effort to help the patient understand the billing and payment process as well as how to gain confidence in their own understanding of the bills they are receiving (because we know many people receive mailboxes full of them), Brandy has written a short book entitled "How to Save Big on Medical Bills". This book is geared toward the average patient receiving care in larger medical facilities that may likely feel completely in the dark as to how billing works, what it means to them, where their balances are derived from, who to speak to and when to ask questions and how to strategically but very easily review, manage and pay their influx of medical bills. Almost everyone who has used this little book has saved hundreds to thousands on their Medical Bills. As a biller, coder and compliance person, Brandy knows how to ask the right questions and get the right answers to the patient’s benefit many times.


Brandy gives you insights for your office, that are not in the book: There is a great need for the improvement of communication with patients and proper management of all billing and collections related efforts in order to improve the quality of the patient experience and reduce risk and error on behalf of the provider. Every provider’s office, regardless of size must take greater responsibility for their role in providing not just quality patient care in terms of services rendered, but also quality patient care in terms of patient account management and patient communication when relating to finances.

To further discuss these critical elements and the responsibility of the provider, the remainder of this article will detail specific criteria that should be very thoroughly addressed in every single practice. While these things to be discussed below only feature a very small glimpse of compliance requirements, it will eventually, likely be costly to overlook these simple but priceless elements. Providers that execute these steps are sure to enhance their patient relationships, improve their own and their staff education and efficiency as well as probably even save staff time and valuable practice money in fines and penalties for unnecessary oversights and errors.

Providers should implement and regularly train for proper billing, coding, collections and patient communication. This quality control measure will not only improve and better ensure a quality patient/practice relationship but also serve as protection for every practice and every patient within.

At a minimum of once per year, the following trainings should take place with all applicable staff, doctors included.

-Review of all paperwork: Any updates (no matter how slight) to paperwork regarding finances must be provided and updated with each patient to which it applies. Paperwork should be carefully reviewed so as to ensure that necessary detail is clearly included. It would be wise to date paperwork files so a practice can be clear as to when the previous review and update took place. Many hospitals and practices have included onto their financial paperwork that the patient is responsible for understanding his/her own policy benefits and limitations. It is a good idea to encourage patients to become familiar with their own insurances.

-Financial consultation: Patients deserve the courtesy of having the financial detail discussed with them and questions answered up front...regardless of the patient case type. Patients must be clearly explained the financial role they have as well as the financial role their insurance (if applicable) has. It must be made clear that insurance benefits are not guaranteed and that the patient is ultimately responsible (a large number of patients are not clear on this important point which causes confusion and anger when insurance payment is not as expected). A patient's trust and respect for a practice is improved when he/she knows who to go to for questions and concerns and is confident that these things can and will be clearly answered/explained.

-Insurance Verification: Staff should understand how to clearly and completely collect data when verifying benefits. Verifications should be dated and initialed or signed by the staff member that collected the data. Complete information on the representative that provided the information should be recorded as well. Patients should be offered or automatically given a copy of this information. Insurance verifications are not a onetime event. Verifications should be redone anytime a patient changes insurances as well as once per year (usually at the beginning of each year when most new cards are issued) because most policy/benefit changes take place at this time.

-Over the Counter Collections (OTC): Doctors and staff should review when and how OTC collections are handled. How does the staff responsible for collecting know the proper amount? How is petty cash recorded and stored? How are credit cards and batch receipts managed? How are all payment types (cash, check, credit card) posted to your accounting system? Are OTC collections balanced at the end of each business day? What verbiage is used to communicate balances and charges with patients? Are charges clearly explained and patients questions clearly answered?

Insurance Collections: Multiple insurance remittances should be reviewed and discussed in detail so as to insure proper understanding of how claims are processed. A practice must ensure that claims were processed correctly. If something is missing, doesn't make sense or needs to be appealed, how does your practice handle this? Review proper posting of payments to gain confidence and certainty that payments are properly posted, required write-offs are properly posted and patient balances are correct. How is the insurance follow-up and resubmissions managed in your practice? Is this system efficient? How is Accounts Receivable managed, particularly relating to insurance claims? Is this regularly reviewed and addressed?

Coding & Billing: Regardless of the patient case type there are requirements that each practice must adhere to in order to be compliant with local and federal rules. Every practice has the responsibility to evaluate their own compliance and learn of the current rules that are to be followed. The fee schedule should be reviewed annually. Complete descriptions, thorough supporting documentation and CPT/HCPCS code use should be evaluated to verify that it is all complete & correct. Diagnoses coding should be evaluated as well so as to make sure that the provider has properly supported services rendered. Review all service and diagnoses codes used. Modifiers should be reviewed as well. The most thorough way to review coding and billing is to conduct a GAP Analysis (see the TPR blog for a description of this and instructions). If something is missing from a record or more information is needed, what is the procedure for the practice to properly collect this data from the provider? What is the system for data entry and is this correct and efficient? What is the system for billing and is this correct and efficient? Are all claims thoroughly reviewed before submission?

Patient Billing: Carefully review manual patient billing procedures. How often are patient invoices sent? Are bills all sent regularly and in a timely manner? If patient billing is detained for some reason (possibly difficulty with insurance processing) and the patient becomes upset for receiving a bill later than expected, how is this handled? Does your practice have a collection system that it follows (phone calls, letters, etc)? Is this collection system efficient and successful? Do patients call with questions regarding balances and are their questions clearly answered? Are patient balances reviewed to insure they are correct, particularly those where patient questions have risen?

All practices and providers must evaluate each of these things regularly in effort to improve on and/or maintain quality control. Of course, specific details for these responsibilities should be recorded in practice manuals, updated accordingly and all trainings should be dated and recorded as well.”

Sorry, this is another longer article but is full of pearls that only someone like Brandy could put into words. Her book is much different, in that it teaches how to save money.

You will like it!

Yours in Health and Wellness,

John W. Brimhall, BA, BS, DC, FIAMA, DIBAK


Dr. John Brimhall 
e-mail:  
[email protected]
Cell:  (602) 538-0976 

 
Brandy Brimhall
e-mail:  
[email protected]
Office:  (303) 242-8901
Cell:      (719) 349-0220
 
Jason Matuszewski
e-mail:  
[email protected]
Office:  866-338-4883
Solitaire Parke
e-mail:  
[email protected]
Office:  866-338-4883  


Dr. Brimhall's Health Puzzle Piece is a weekly email newsletter distribution that has been brought to you by the collaborative efforts of the Brimhall Wellness Team. All newsletters are published and available at www.Brimhall.com a division of Health Path Products, LLC.


The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The nutritional information, suggestions, and research provided are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease and should not be used as a substitute for sound medical advice. Please see your health care professional in all matters pertaining to your physical health.

September 23 2013 - The Gut as the Second Brain

Brimhall.com

September 23, 2013 Puzzle Piece

The Gut as the Second Brain

Michael D. Gershon M.D. is the physician that started the scientific community on its awareness the gut is the "second brain" in 1996. He has popularized this term to refer to the nervous system within the gut, the enteric nervous system (ENS). He states it is the intrinsic innervation to the bowel. He wrote the book, The Second Brain. Dr Gershon is the chairman of the department of anatomy and cell biology at Columbia.
E-Mail: [email protected]

Dr Gershon has received grants from the National Institutes of Health. He said on his research, "I became painfully aware of the influence the brain has on the gut." In fact, anyone who has ever felt butterflies in the stomach before giving a speech has experienced this gut feeling. Some may have felt intestinal urgency or even diarrhea before an examination or other demanding activity. This is the interconnectedness and action of the dual nervous systems.

Brain

Dr Gershon feels the connection between the two brains may have a major relationship to dysfunction and many diagnosed conditions of both emotions and physical symptoms. He looks to this connection in anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers and Parkinson's disease etc.

Both Dr Gershon and Dr Emeran Mayer, a professor of medicine, physiology and psychiatry at UCLA state believe the majority of patients with anxiety and depression will also have alterations of their GI function, which can be one of the predisposing factors in the dysfunction.

Both the brain and the gut share in function and their treatment overlap in results and possible side effects. As you help one to normalize, you help the other. If what you do in treatment causes side effects, you may cause them in both areas. Antidepressants, for example, cause gastric distress in up to a quarter of the people who take them. Stress of any kind can also overstimulate the nervous system, including the ENS. One example is stress affecting the esophagus that can cause a feeling of choking, which can yield marked anxiety.

Gershon, along with a number of like-minded researchers are studying brain-gut connections in the relatively new field of neurogastroenterology. New understandings of the way the second brain works and the interactions between the two are helping to treat disorders like constipation, ulcers and Hirschprung's disease.

Digestion and the Role of Brain Function
The role of the enteric nervous system is to manage every aspect of digestion, from the messages sent by the brain and the interconnectedness of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. The second brain is a very nearly self-contained network of neural circuitry, neurotransmitters and proteins. Jackie D. Wood, professor of physiology, cell biology and internal medicine at Ohio State said, "Rather than Mother Nature's trying to pack 100 million neurons someplace in the brain or spinal cord and then sending long connections to the GI tract, the circuitry is right next to the systems that require control."

"What brains do is control behavior," Wood said. "The brain in your gut has stored within its neural networks a variety of behavioral programs, like a computer. The digestive state determines which program your gut calls up from its library and runs."

Remember, research shows foods contain messenger molecules that alter hunger, digestion, cravings, and weight, which certainly affects our health. Let's look at the physiology. If you miss a meal, the gut is fairly silent other than sending a hunger signal. If you eat junk food or a non-food like GMO alterations, gluten or other sensitivity/allergic substances, you set up a cascade of reverse contractions that force it and everything else in the gut back towards and even into the stomach and back out through the esophagus. This causes serious consequences.
The ENS in the gut always evaluates what we put in our mouths, decides on the course of action and initiates multiple reflexes to carry out the message. "The gut monitors pressure," Gershon said. "It monitors the progress of digestion. It detects nutrients, and it measures acid and salts. It's a little chemical lab." The ENS does this on its own, with little input from the central nervous system.

Gut, Emotions and the CNS
We have all experienced an emotional stress affecting our digestion. Many of you that are DC's, DO's, ND's or Acupuncturists have seen a spinal adjustment, spinal or visceral manipulation, craniosacral therapy or a meridian balancing help digestion almost immediately. Gary M. Mawe, a professor of anatomy and neurobiology at the University of Vermont stated "Clinicians are finally acknowledging that a lot of dysfunction in GI disorders involves changes in the central nervous system. My experience is it is hard to say which comes first, physiology or psychology?"

The ENS and the CNS use the same hardware to run different software programs. For example, serotonin is crucial to feelings of well-being. The antidepressants known as SSRIs raise the level of serotonin available to the brain to make one feel less depressed.

A very interesting fact is that about 95 percent of the body's serotonin is in the gut. Here, it acts as a neurotransmitter and a signaling mechanism. The digestive process begins when a specialized cell, an enterochromaffin, squirts serotonin into the wall of the gut, which has at least seven types of serotonin receptors. These receptors communicate with nerve cells to start digestive enzymes flowing that start the food bolus moving through the intestines. Serotonin is the communicator between the gut and brain to keep both nervous systems in harmony. Another very interesting fact is 90 percent of this information is traveling only one way, from the gut to the head.

One of the main nutritionals I evaluate for in GI dysfunction is a BioEnergX product,
MaX GI, which is a synergistic blend of nutrients for both the small and large intestine. Xymogen has a variety of the most advanced probiotics and blends such as the ProbioMax that has 6 different options. It is important to evaluate stomach acid and enzyme support such as GastrAcid and Xymozyme.

The gut also contains 80-90% of the immune system. If we find the GI tract needs nutritional support for dysbiosis, we consider MaX VRL, MaX Immune and MaX Para. This is a very fascinating subject. We will discuss it further in our Puzzle Pieces and in the seminars.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our webinars and seminars soon.



Yours in Health and Wellness,

John W. Brimhall, BA, BS, DC, FIAMA, DIBAK


Dr. John Brimhall 
e-mail:  [email protected]
Cell:  (602) 538-0976 

 
Brandy Brimhall
e-mail:  [email protected]
Office:  (303) 242-8901
Cell:      (719) 349-0220
 
Jason Matuszewski
e-mail:  [email protected]
Office:  866-338-4883
Solitaire Parke
e-mail:  [email protected]
Office:  866-338-4883  

Dr. Brimhall's Health Puzzle Piece is a weekly email newsletter distribution that has been brought to you by the collaborative efforts of the Brimhall Wellness Team. All newsletters are published and available at www.Brimhall.com a division of Health Path Products, LLC.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The nutritional information, suggestions, and research provided are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease and should not be used as a substitute for sound medical advice. Please see your health care professional in all matters pertaining to your physical health.

July 16, 2018 - Bemer and the Facts and Science

pp_banner

Bemer and the Facts and Science

July 16, 2018 Puzzle Piece

When we are considering any equipment for ourselves or our patients, there are basic questions one asks.  What does it do, how does it do it and does it really work to improve function and health?
 
The Bemer technology states to increase circulation up to 37% in 8 minutes.  It is estimated 80% of dysfunction in the body has a hypoxia connection.  Therefore, for me the Bemer is worth considering. 

I use my Bemer daily and have for several years.  I use it with my patients as well.  Below is a link that explains what is happening and how it improves function in those that utilize the technology.

 

bemer_logo

 

http://www.bmruniversity.com/whatisbemer/

 

Click Here for PARKER, COLORADO Seminar On Biologic Allograft- July 20-22nd, 2018

Click Here for LARGO, FLORIDA Seminar On Biologic Allograft - September 21-23, 2018

Click Here For All Methylation Seminars


Yours in Health and Wellness,

John Brimhall, DC, BA, BS, DIBAK, FIAMA

May 15, 2017 - Brimhall Six Steps Testimonials pp_banner
letters
Brimhall Six Steps Testimonials

May 15, 2017 Puzzle Piece
 
 
Hi Dr. John,
 
I was thinking about you today
and reflecting on how grateful I am
for having crossed paths with you.
 
You are an amazing genius of a man
and I love how you love helping
doctors continue to grow so we
can continue to help humanity.
 
Thank you so much for helping
me transform my mindset, my
life, my practice because of all
that you have taught me.
 
My life would not be as fulfilling
without you. And thank you
for your relentless and untiring
drive to continue to improve
on how to help people stay
healthier as the years go by.
 
I love and appreciate you.
 
Love and Light,
 
Dennis M. Mariano, DC, DICCP
Mariano Holistic Life Center, Inc.
21 Mystic Lane
Malvern, PA 19355
(610)640-HOPE(4673)
 
"When Health is Absent,
Wisdom cannot reveal itself,
Art cannot become manifest,
Strength cannot be exerted,
Wealth is useless,
Reason is powerless"
 
~Herophiles, 300 B.C.~

training_course
 
Six Steps to Wellness Training & Online Access™  
John W Brimhall, BA, BS, DC, FIAMA, DIBAK
October 13, 2014 Puzzle Piece Dr. John on Laser October 13, 2014 Puzzle Piece  

 

Dr. John on Laser

I have been using laser in practice since 1972.  As far as I know, the first wide spread Chiropractic Seminars to teach laser were mine, started in the 2,000’s.
 
I have put together an outline on what I will cover at Homecoming on January 23-25, 2015 in Tempe Arizona.  This will give you a prospective of the many uses of cold and hot lasers in practice.
 
Speaker Name: John W Brimhall, BA, BS, DC, FIAMA, DIBAK
Session Title: Laser is Indispensable in any practice for pain and/or improving function.
 
Session Description: The science of laser in improving function and reducing pain in acute and chronic patients.  Scientific review of wavelengths, penetration, depth, pulsation, power and cold verses hot laser will be discussed.  Research shows improved function and healing, increased oxygen and ATP, DNA repair at transcription and translation, reduction of inflammation etc.
 
We will discuss how laser helps in facilitation and maintaining correction of vertebral subluxations and all forms of health treatment.
 
We will cite studies demonstrating better absorption and distribution of nutrition, as well as increased cellular and total body detoxification with laser.  Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) increases circulation, nutrient utilization, detoxification and improves outcomes in conjunction with Chiropractic, Naturopathic, Medical, Dental etc. care.
 
Outline:
  1. Introduction: The Science behind laser and increased outcomes using laser to improve any and all physical and nutritional techniques.
  1. Subtopic A: The science of laser and FDA clearance for Chiropractic and clearance in general, with precautations.
    1. Science documents increased wound and overall healing, increased ATP and mitochondrial resuscitation, reduction of inflammation, modulation of function etc.
    2. Cold Laser and pulsing laser vs. Hot Laser from 20 mw to 30 watts!
    3. Wavelength, color, depth of penetration and effect of power
    4. The therapeutic application in Health Care is almost endless
  1. Subtopic B:  The science and utilization of laser, nutrition, vibration, adjusting, ROM and exercise simultaneously with spinal adjustment and fascial release in balancing NEUROLOGY and FUNCTION
          a. Using diagnostic documentation with blood, urine, orthopedic and neurological tests to           understand the degree of dysfunction, giving scientific evidence of the plan of therapeutic action           and document improvement
          b. Using laser and muscle response testing in evaluation and treatment to improve function and           patient outcomes
          c. Using computerized interpretation of blood, hair and challenge urine tests for differential diagnosis           and treatment indications, demonstrating the need and effectiveness of treatment, which includes           laser therapy                           
  1. Subtopic C:  Increasing patient outcomes by using Laser, nutrition, other modalities and spinal adjustment together.  The science, application, safety, ethics and clinical results in utilizing these systems in tandem. 

    We look forward to seeing you at the Brimhall Homecoming 2015 for an all-star speaking lineup and ALL NEW and EXPANDED INFORMATION.

    SEE YOU AT HOMECOMING, JANUARY 23-25, 2015 IN Tempe, AZ!

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    HOMECOMING JANUARY 23-25, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona

    John W Brimhall, DC, FIAMA, DIBAK:  The Six Steps to Wellness, with new  insights, including advanced laser(s), the Female Brain, Male Brain, Methylation, Detoxification and Cellular Regeneration through REDOX SIGNALING MOLECULES, Mitochondrial Resuscitation, Inflammation & Autoimmune Conditions .

    Brett B. Brimhall, DC:  Integrating Practice Procedures to allow easy flow for Wellness Care, including weight loss and body contouring, brain balance, neurology, laser(s) in action, detox, foot baths, sauna, Craniosacral, PEMF, Power Plate... + Workshops on ALL SIX STEPS

    Cheryl Burdette, ND: The Triad of Gut Destruction and Immunogenicity of Foods, inflammation, symptomatic expressions & auto-immunity... with complexity recognition, evaluation and treatment.

    Ryan Frace, MS: The 12 most common nutrient considerations in practice, with the latest research and new innovative nutrition to back it up. Insights on products that are ONLY sold to Professionals!

    Jesse Liebman, DC on adjuncts to the Chiropractic Adjustment and the Six Steps to Wellness, with emphasis on Body Contouring, Detoxification and helping achieve the Ideal Weight and Shape.  Yes he did way over a million in services rendered and collected last year and new records in progress.

    Van Merkle, DC, DABCI, DCBCN, CNN:  back by popular demand on Blood, Hair and Toxic Urine challenges to asses and treat the patient with exactness, based on the Scientific Literature and a computerized reporting system.  He makes patient evaluation and documentation understandable and reproducible for YOU. + Workshop

    John Krage, DC: Did over a Million last year creating patient body balance and function, using the evaluation of the lower extremities, including feet and an extremely complete orthotic system.  He will show you evaluation, presentation and treatment including advanced laser protocols.  + Workshop

    Scott Kremer, DC on how to create the Practice of Your Dreams.  He is part of "New Beginning's and Life Coaching" He will show you the way to visualize and materialize a practice LIKE HIS, USING THE BRIMHALL PROTOCOL AND GENERATING A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
    Yes, he too did over a Million Dollars last year and so do many of his clients.

    Garry Gordon, DO, MD, MD (H) will present the latest research in  Oxidative Medicine. The Free Radical  Theory of AGING is now recognized  to be wrong.  Certain Free Radicals generated by our mitochondria  such as REDOX SIGNALING MOLECULES  are essential  for OPTIMAL  Health and Longevity.  Remarkable research  document enhanced Human Performance and a 500-800% increase in intracellular Glutathione.  Therefore, this approach will  significantly improve our ability to manage EVERY  health challenge.  (including skin cancer)

    Dave Smaldone, DC is one of the leading Trainers and Chiropractors in evaluation and taping of the complicated patient.  He will teach evaluation, treatment and supportive taping. + Workshop

    Brandy Brimhall, CPC, CMCO, CCCPC, CPCO on documentation, coding and compliance. It is a must for what you need and must know to keep current, protect you, your patient and your license.  + Workshop
 
Click Here For Brimhall and Merkle Webinar Registration
 
 
Yours in Health and Wellness,
John W. Brimhall, BA, BS, DC, FIAMA, DIBAK