Return-Path: <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h41HolU21779; Thu, 1 May 2003 13:50:47 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 13:50:47 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <E1BF501B4C3AD511954D00508BB8E35F03F5B153@ophs1.ophs.gov> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Baur, Cynthia" <CBaur@osophs.dhhs.gov> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3967] RE: help with "prudent layperson" explanation X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2656.59) Status: O Content-Length: 3365 Lines: 73 I checked with a staff person at Medicare about this question and got the following response. I hope it helps and am posting it to the list for others who have similar questions. Plain language definition CMS uses: A medical emergency is when you believe that your health is in serious danger- when every second counts. You may have a bad injury, sudden illness or an illness quickly getting much worse. This comes from Medicare & You 2003, page 47. Cynthia Baur, Ph.D. Health Communication and e-Health Advisor Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Ave., S.W., Rm. 738G Washington, D.C. 20201 (202) 205-2311 (voice) cbaur@osophs.dhhs.gov -----Original Message----- From: Janet Sorensen [mailto:Jsorensen@afmc.org] Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 5:27 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3965] help with "prudent layperson" explanation I recently changed addresses and have not been reading my list messages, so forgive me if this has already been covered or if it is an inappropriate request. I'm struggling against a deadline to revise our handbook for Medicaid and CAHPS program recipients. I'm trying to get it down to a fourth- or fifth-grade reading level whenever possible. But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says we must include certain things, such as the "prudent layperson" definition of an emergency. I might have to include the federal wording (ugh) but I'd like to put it in quotation marks and then follow it with some kind of simpler explanation--which of course would have to be approved by CMS as well. I'm wondering if a simpler explanation already exists that has already been blessed by CMS. I have had no luck so far searching on the Web. Here is the federal definition, just so you'll know what I'm talking about. I can take a stab at simplifying it but getting it approved will probably be a challenge. "The term 'emergency medical condition' means a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that a prudent layperson, who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine, could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in -- (i) placing the health of the individual (or, with respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman and her unborn child) in serious jeopardy, (ii) serious impairment to bodily functions, or (iii) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part." *************************************************************************** CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information in this E-mail is confidential and may be privileged. This E-mail is intended solely for the named recipient or recipients. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution of this E-mail is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please inform us by replying with the subject line marked "Wrong Address" and then deleting this E-mail and any attachments. Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, Inc. (AFMC) uses regularly updated anti-virus software in an attempt to reduce the possibility of transmitting computer viruses. We do not guarantee, however, that any attachments to this E-mail are virus-free. ***************************************************************************
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