System of Providing an Internet Web Site that Assists Medical Professionals Draft a Letter of Medical Necessity or Other Documentation for Transmission to a Third Party Payer on Behalf of a Patient and Method of use

• US 20100185463A1
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher Mentch, James Noland
• Original Assignee: Christopher Mentch, James Noland
• Inventors: Noland, James, Mentch, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,712,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The systems disclosed is an internet based application that allows clinical professionals to write letters of medical necessity to justify therapeutic services and devices recommended by physicians and/or clinicians. The letters of medical necessity are intended to be read by reviewers who determine whether or not a service or deice is medically necessary. The system herein requires that either a clinician or vendor begin the process by logging on the internet web site and agree to the user agreements as well as HIPAA compliance measures. Upon all information being entered into the system and justifications from a physician for the services and/or devices, the letter of medical necessity is then generated, signed by the clinician and sent to the third party payer for payment consideration.

Claims

1. A system of providing an internet website to assist in creating a letter of medical necessity, the system comprising:

a network server for controlling user access, maintaining registered users, maintaining data files, maintaining user defined files, and controlling communications thereto;

a user-access device such as a personal computer for communicating with the network server over the internet, and for submitting user-generated information to the network server; and

wherein the network server responds to user entered data and prepares a letter of medical necessity for sending to a third party payer based upon the data entered.

2. A system of providing an internet website to assist in creating a letter of medical necessity, the system comprising:

means for a vendor-user to securely log onto the system through the internet which complies with federal and state laws relative to health care providers, assign the required patient-specific and clinician-specific information for a letter of medical necessity, select the appropriate modalities for the patient, customize the information, which is now raw data for the letter of medical necessity;

means to submit the raw data to a clinician for review;

means to notify the vendor-user of the clinician acceptance;

means to build the letter of medical necessity on the network server; and

means to download the finished letter of medical necessity to the clinician'"'"'s computer.

3. A system of providing an internet website to assist in creating a letter of medical necessity, the system comprising:

means for a clinician-user to securely log onto the system through the internet which complies with federal and state laws relative to health care providers, assign the required patient-specific and physician-specific information for a letter of medical necessity, select the appropriate modalities for the patient, customize the information, which is now raw data for the letter of medical necessity;

means to build the letter of medical necessity on the network server; and

means to download the finished letter of medical necessity to the clinician'"'"'s computer.

4. A method of using an internet website to create a letter of medical necessity comprising the steps of:

(a) securely logging on to website by a vendor;

(b) starting a new specification sheet;

(c) entering patient information, diagnosis and insurance information;

(d) assigning a clinician;

(e) assigning a physician;

(f) selecting appropriate services and/or devices;

(g) customizing items;

(h) assigning a date to complete the project;

(i) adding comments and help notes;

(j) submitting the information to clinician by e-mail or facsimile;

(k) securely logging on to website by the clinician;

(l) accepting specification sheet;

(m) editing patient information, edit diagnosis, justification of items and introduce additional information;

(n) notifying vendor automatically by e-mail;

(o) generating letter of medical necessity and downloading to clinician'"'"'s computer; and

,

(p) signing letter of medical necessity and sending to vendor, insurance company or third party payer.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of uploading patient photographs.

5. A method of using an internet website to create a letter of medical necessity comprising the steps of:

(a) securely logging on to website by a clinician;

(b) entering patient information, diagnosis and insurance information;

(c) selecting appropriate services and/or devices;

(d) customizing items;

(e) completing justifications for said services and/or devices;

(f) making final revisions and edits;

(g) generating letter of medical necessity and downloading to clinician'"'"'s computer; and

,

(h) signing letter of medical necessity and sending to vendor, insurance company or third party payer.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of uploading patient photographs.