OVERWHELMED WITH MEDICAL BILLS? IT HELPS TO THINK LIKE A DETECTIVE

BY JENNIFER MCLELLAND

As a parent of a child with medically complex conditions, I'm good at handling health emergencies. My child is tracheostomy dependent, which means that several times a day, his breathing tube gets blocked and I have to act quickly to clear it. When my son's ventilator alarm sounds, I know how to troubleshoot and figure out what went wrong, so he can keep breathing. Handling medical emergencies isn't hard for me anymore, it's just a part of life.

But handling all of the paperwork that the medical emergencies create? That's an entirely different skillset. Unlike with medical emergencies, parents get no training on how to deal with health care approval paperwork and bills. They must figure it out on their own. This used to be a huge source of stress for me, until I changed my mindset. Now, I'm no longer a frustrated mom sorting through bills and insurance denials – I'm a health care detective and I'm solving health care billing mysteries.

In my first career, I was a police officer. Being a mom to a med

ically fragile child is actually very similar. There are moments of life-threatening danger where I have to act quickly and decisively, followed by hours of paperwork. Being good at emergencies keeps my son alive. Being good at paperwork means my son gets the care he needs and the bills get paid. Some bills do end up being my responsibility, but understanding the terms and the rules of his three health insurance programs: Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid), California Childrens Services and our private insurance) means that I don't panic when I get a stray bill for more than my car is worth.