Resources
The businesses and organizations included
on this page provide information about
Hospital
performance evaluations,
Health
care insurance and programs,
Physician
lookup, and
Obstetrics.
Click on any link above to review information
for that topic.
Hospital Evaluation Resources
The Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) is
the state agency, along with the HSCRC (see below), responsible
for developing the Hospital Performance Evaluation Guide.
For more information about the Commission, its public members
and its work, visit their web site at www.mhcc.maryland.gov or
call toll-free 1-877-245-1762.
The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission
(HSCRC) is the state agency responsible for reviewing
and approving hospital rates and making financial information
about Maryland hospitals available to the public. For more
information about the HSCRC, its public members and its work,
visit their web site at www.hscrc.state.md.us or
call 877-4MD-DHMH or 410-764-2605.
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO) has prepared a guide to assist
consumers to select a hospital: Helping You Choose
the Hospital For You.
You may visit their Web site at www.jcaho.org or
call 630-792-5000.
The Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) is
the lead federal agency responsible for research on how the
health care system is working including research on quality,
cost, access, use of services, and health care outcomes and
patient safety. AHRQ has a variety of resources for consumers,
including consumer guides for improved health and health
care (for example, a guide on questions to ask prior to surgery).
Information on health conditions, diseases, and quality of
care information is available at www.ahrq.gov/consumer/.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
(DHMH) is the State agency responsible for the
licensing and regulatory oversight of Maryland hospitals
through the Office of Health Care Quality. Visit their
Web site at www.dhmh.state.md.us/ohcq/ or
call toll-free 1-877-402-8218.
The Maryland Attorney General's Office publishes
the reports that are of value for hospital patients', including a
guide to understanding your medical bill, what to do when
you are denied insurance coverage, and other
consumer reports.
The Association of Maryland Hospitals & Health
Systems (MHA) is a hospital advocacy, resource
and quality improvement organization. A Web site is available
providing information on its activities at http://www.mdhospitals.org/
or call 410-379-6200.
The Veterans Affairs (VA) Maryland Health Care System is
a health care organization dedicated to providing quality,
compassionate, and accessible care and service to Maryland's
veterans. The VA has many medical centers and outpatient clinics
located throughout the state that all work together to form
a comprehensive health care delivery system. Additional information
about VA hospitals can be found at www.vamhcs.med.va.gov.
Office of the Inspector General
The mission of the Office of the Inspector General is to protect the integrity of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) and promote standards that benefit the citizens of Maryland and beneficiaries of its programs.
Health
Insurance Resources
The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) is
an independent State agency that regulates Maryland's insurance
industry and protects consumers by ensuring that insurance
companies and health plans act in accordance with State insurance
laws. You may visit their Web site at www.mdinsurance.state.md.us or
call toll-free 1-800-492-6116. From the Web site home page,
click on the Consumer Information link to the left to find
information intended to help you make better insurance decisions.
The Maryland Medical Assistance Programs are
an integral part of the Maryland Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene. The programs provide access to health care
services for many of the State’s low-income residents.
This Web site contains information about each program or
service and provides instructions on how and where to apply
for benefits. Visit their Web site at www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/mmahome.html.
The Web site provides the names and telephone numbers of
the various agencies and companies who provide medical insurance
benefits.
Insurance providers who offer benefits
in the state of Maryland include:
Aetna, Inc. offers
a number of services and programs to individuals and families
including several preferred provider organization (PPO) plans.
Review information about Aetna’s plans on their Web site http://www.aetna.com/members/individuals/health/plans.html?state=Maryland or
call them at 1-800-MY-Health (694-3258).
CareFirst of Maryland, Inc., an
independent licensee of the BlueCross and BlueShield Association,
is the largest health care insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Visit their e-sales site at www.carefirst.com/eSales/index.jsp to
review the costs and details for their various plans. Find
an office near you to receive additional information or answers
to your questions. The offices are available at www.carefirst.com/company/html/Locations.html.
CIGNA Corporation provides
quality health, dental, vision, pharmacy and behavioral health
coverage for employees and their families. All CIGNA plans
offer quality care delivered by an extensive network of
health care professionals. Visit their Web site at www.cigna.com/health/consumer/.
Coventry Health Care Inc. offers
a variety of flexible health benefit programs along with
a long-term commitment to service excellence. Visit their
Web site at www.chcde.com/framesetdef.asp?Community=Member to
learn about their products and benefit plans, search for
participating doctors, request forms and literature, use
their health education resources and more.
The Graphic Arts Benefit Corporation (GABC) is
a unique health benefits program serving the Washington DC,
Maryland and Virginia areas. Complete an on-line form to
receive information on the various plans available through
GABC: www.gabchealth.org/quotes.htm .
For nearly 50 years, Great-West Healthcare, a
division of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company,
has pioneered new ideas from the frontier of health care,
offering creative benefit solutions that engage employees
and help businesses manage costs. Click on the Products and
Services link on the right side of their Web site home page
at www.greatwesthealthcare.com/ for
plan information.
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is
the fourth largest mutual life insurance company in America,
with 145 years of experience in providing diversified financial
solutions, including life insurance, disability income insurance,
retirement services, employee benefits, and investments.
Visit their Web site at www.guardianlife.com/solutions/product_portfolio/employee_benefits.html
for more information.
Kaiser Permanente is
a non-profit health plan committed to improving
the health of the communities they serve.
They offer health plans and programs for
individuals as well as groups. Find more
information on their Web site at www.kaiserpermanente.org.
New York Life Insurance Company offers
long-term care insurance to cover the costs
for those who will stay in a nursing home
or require professional home health care. Long-term care insurance can help protect assets, protect
estates, and preserve an individual's freedom of choice, should a long-term
care need arise. Visit their Web site at www.newyorklife.com/ and
click on the Long-Term Care Insurance link for more information.
The MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company provides
a diversified line of health insurance and related products
to small business owners and other individuals. On their
Web site, you will find specific customer information, frequently
used forms, contact information should you require more detail
or service, and frequently asked questions. Visit MEGA at www.megainsurance.com/Default.aspx.
The Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company offers
a variety of tools to help you better understand your health
and health insurance benefits. Visit their Web site at www.principal.com to
learn about your health insurance benefits and experience
their special programs and website tools designed to help
you get healthy and stay healthy!
Trustmark Insurance Company offers
health and life insurance and benefits
administration services to employer groups.
Click the various links off of the Trustmark
Web site home page to view information on their various insurance
plans: www.trustmarkinsurance.com/internet/corporate/app/index.
The UnitedHealth Care Group provides
health care products, programs and services giving people
in Maryland the information and resources they need to stay
healthy. To view all plans offered to Maryland residents,
view the Web site home page at www.uhc.com,
select Medical from the View Our Plans menu, click on the
Plans by State link on the left side of the page, and select
Maryland from the menu.
Mid Atlantic Medical Services, LLC (MAMSI) is
a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. MAMSI offers
a variety of health coverage and home health care insurance
through its many subsidiaries. Find information on their
Web site at www.mamsi.com/index.jsp.
Union Labor Life Insurance Company, Inc. (ULLICO) seeks
a better quality of life for working people by offering innovative
insurance, investment, financial and administrative products
and services that help organized labor meet its goals. Find
information on their products on their Web site at http://www.ullico.com/b/index.cfm.
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services hosts the official U.S. Government site for people with Medicare, medicare.gov.
Physician
Resources
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Board of Physicians’ mission is to protect
the health and safety of the citizens of Maryland through
strong enforcement of licensure standards for physicians
and allied health providers and an effective disciplinary
program. Visit the Board of Physician’s Web site
at www.mbp.state.md.us to
review license dates and any active disciplinary actions
for your doctor, therapist, pharmacist, etc.
Obstetrics
Resources
The Maryland Center for Maternal and Child Health is
part of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's
Family Health Administration. Its mission is to protect,
promote and improve the health and well-being of women, children
and adolescents in Maryland. The Center has online information
about the first prenatal visit, nutrition, common complaints,
and problem signs. The site can be accessed at http://www.fha.state.md.us/mch/html/prenatal.html#early
The La Leche League Web site, http://www.lalecheleague.org,
is sponsored by La Leche League International, an international,
nonprofit, organization dedicated to providing education,
information, support, and encouragement to women who want
to breastfeed.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides
information on the proper use of a child safety seat and
how to buy a booster seat on their Web site: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/.
The Department of Heath and Human Services Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention Web site provides
information on preventing birth defects. Not all birth defects
can be prevented, but a woman can take some actions that
increase her chance of having a healthy baby. Many birth
defects happen very early in pregnancy, sometimes before
a woman even knows she is pregnant. Remember that about half
of all pregnancies are unplanned. Visit their Web site at http:www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/abc.htm.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is
a physician's association committed to the attainment of
optimal physical, mental, and social health and well being
for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
A number of resources for the family can be found on their
Web site at http://www.aap.org/family/.
The American College of Nurse Midwives site
provides consumer information on the role of a nurse midwife,
how to locate a midwife, and other information for expectant
mothers and their families. Find information on their Web
site at http://www.midwife.org.
An organization committed to improving
maternal health. SaferMaternity hopes
to create a caring place for women and their families to
share their stories, their knowledge, and their dreams. To
access the site click here http://www.safermaternity.org
International Cesarean
Awareness Network (ICAN). ICAN’s
mission is to prevent unnecessary cesareans through education
and to support women who are healing from past birth experiences.
ICAN also provides information for women who are planning
a vaginal birth after cesarean. Their web site is www.ican-online.org |
