Welcome to Family Health Advocate. Helping You Find Your Voice In Health Care
Family Health Advocate recognizes the invaluable role you play in your family's health. Not only do you make decisions about your personal health and your family’s health, but you are also a health care consumer challenged with navigating and negotiating with the health care system.
We are here to provide information and tools to empower you as a health care consumer. Once you are equipped with these tools, you can have an impact on issues that affect your family’s health.
Your voice counts. Join us and become a Family Health Advocate to help make sure the health care system supports you. Together, we can send the message that the health care system needs to change, and it needs to change now.
We invite you to join our community and sign up for e-mail updates and our Action Alerts. Please also take a moment to share your story with us, and invite friends to do the same.
Advocacy Matters
- Medical Homes Featured in Discussions
As promised, we are providing ongoing news about the patient-centered medical home -- a model for health care supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Recently, the concept was discussed in "Viewpoints: The Health Care Debate," a series of webcast interviews produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation that explores shortcomings in the nation's health care system and how they can be improved.
Learn More- Health Care Supply and Demand
Although health care coverage for all may be a good goal, it can lead to other problems. For example, Massachusetts recently implemented a plan that guarantees all state residents are covered by health insurance only to find there are not enough doctors to care for the influx of newly insured patients.
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For Your Health
- Health Histories Made Handy
At one time or another, you've probably filled out a personal and family health history form for your doctor. This health history record documents not only your own health but also that of your family members. Wouldn't it be nice if you could compile a single history that you could choose to share with each of your health care providers?
Learn More- Expanded and Enhanced Health Information
FamilyDoctor.org, an award-winning patient education Web site, is expanding its health information to include health videos and new tools. Now, not only can you read about health symptoms and treatments, but you can watch videos covering a wide range of health topics.
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Tools & Resources
- In Search of Reliable Information
Taking an active role in your health care sometimes requires doing your own research to find the information you need. Whether you are trying to find a new doctor or just looking for information about a specific health condition, it's hard to know where to start, where to look and how to separate fact from fiction.
Learn More- Resources for Coping with Your Medical Bills
Keeping up with your bills in these tough times can be -- tough. Medical bills are no exception. If you are having trouble paying your medical bills or would like some ideas on how to save money on your medical expenses, check out these Web sites. There may be help available.
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