Honest Health letter received

 Today, June 1, the U. S. Mail brought me the letter from Albany Med Health System, Honest Health, CMS, Honest ACO of New York LLC in Nashville, TN.

A yellow banner across the top of the page reads:  NOTIFICATION ONLY." I wonder why that is there, what could it mean?  That I am being informed, but not to have any expectations to use any of what I'm reading?  

    I'm sure there is a reason for why it's headed only a notification. I just don't know what it is. 

     Just 3 days ago, I asked if  a script for a procedure from an Albany Med. participating doctor's office could be sent to Samaritan prior to my office visit.  I was told that it would be difficult if not impossible, and anyway it would take such a long time to be received that it would not be in time for my office visit, which would not be of any value without the results from the script. "We are in 2 different systems, you know."

I meekly accepted her explanation, though I know my primary care doctor is in the Albany Med system and she has been sending scripts to Samaritan for years. 

When Prospero Crespo called me last week, apparently to advise of what is in this letter, I suspected it was a scam. His accent was difficult enough to understand, but he could not understand me at all, leaving me on line, which led nowhere.  

  I advised my primary care office, that the caller kept repeating the doctor's name.The office assured me that Honest Health was legitimate. 

If I were of a critical nature, I would question the choice of name---what the heck is honest health? Opposed to dishonest health? Bad enough there is already an Honest Weight.  

  The program's  purpose is to improve my health care experience and better meet my individual needs. The emphasis is on coordination. Unfortunately, many of the doctors I see are too busy to do more than barely coordinate what they are reading on the computer with the patient in front of them---all in the 15 minutes allotted for the office visit. 

But I remain optimistic---the letter is so detailed as to help it can offer. I'm hopeful that adding another layer to the delivery of health care services can only improve things. HONESTLY.