Joomla

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Carla,I looked at the Joomla website and it mentioned a 30 day free trial. What are the costs after that? I couldn't find any info about that. ThanksKathySubject: Re: "non covered" benefits (revisited)To: Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 1:02 AM

,Joomla is just one open source code (free) that can be used to build a website. What I found in using it was that there were many add-ons, both free and commercial, that added functionality typical of more expensive setups. My montanahealthsolutions.com site is a free template and very simple set up. My other site, a subscription-based coaching site, is more complex. It has a forum, has protected content so that only those with the right subscription can access it, and more. It also has a facebook-like "wall" for the subscribers to use to build "community" that is kind of fun. I could add a "chat" function so people could chat when they were online or it could be done as a way of having a coaching session.... most of these would not be desirable in a

practice-based website. If I were to implement a subscription website for my practice, I would add in the necessary "plug-ins" and "extensions" that would increase the functionality of my practice website. To upgrade my practice site to a subscription site, I would really only need one commercial add-on like 'Community Builder Subs' (http://www.joomlapolis.com/cb-solutions/cbsubs#vtabs18) which costs 95 Euro for a license up to 500 subscribers. That add-on would provide the method to protect the website content (so that only those that are subscribed could access certain content and pages) and the mechanism to run the payments through something like Paypal or another payment gateway.As far as reading sources for Joomla vs other options... oy. Seto may be the better one to ask. Drupal,

Wordpress and

Joomla (http://www.joomla.org/) are the major 3 from what I understand and each has certain advantages. I just chose one and ran with it. I'm no expert. I am self-taught and learn what I need to learn to make it work. I previously used Sitebuilder and before that, Frontpage to build my websites. That meant I had to be at the computer that had the files to make changes, then I had to upload them. With Joomla, the database is a SQL database on the server and I connect online and make changes- so any computer will provide access. You have a template with lots of positions for content- so maybe a place to put "news" another to put menus and another to put articles, or banners or ads if you want ads. Like I said before, initially it is confusing but soon it all makes sense and is easy. Particularly if you keep it simple. One example on my

montanahealthsolutions

site... I am "off' on Mondays so there is a content position at the top of the site for 'news" and I have two 'articles' I rotate in that position - one for Mondays and another for Tues- Sun... now I realize I should have one for the weekend as I write this. But it essentially tells folks if I'm in or out and that I will respond by email or whatever...I was quoted $8000 by a local company to set up my coaching website the way I wanted it- using Joomla. Instead, I found someone who helped me learn the basics and I've now developed a fairly complicated site (the coaching site) for a total of about $500. Again, to get the practice site running as a subscription site would be much less than that as all you need is the hosting server, domain name and an extension like Community Builder Subs.I'd be happy to show you around my coaching site via skype if you are interested.CarlaTo: Sent: Mon, January 10, 2011 8:52:29 PMSubject: RE: "non covered" benefits (revisited)

I’m interested in understanding what joomla can do that traditional web site building tools don’t offer.I assume that http://www.montanahealthsolutions.com/ is the URL for your joomla based web site?Anything worth reading that you can suggest that would explain the advantages of joomla? Neighbors, MDHuntsville,

Alabamawww.DocNeighbors.com Solo using FlexMedical EMR/Billing From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Carla GibsonSent: Monday, January 10, 2011 7:48 PMTo: Subject: Re:

"non covered" benefits

(revisited) Stew,I've been thinking about this issue for about 10 years. I'm in Montana and my contacts with the insurance commissioner here has not been favorable when trying to negotiate some sort of access plan- even if paid in arrears by patients or employers. After reading your previous emails and thinking a bit more about how my patients access me, I do think a two tiered system is the way to go. I've struggled with the NCBF idea because yes, I am 24-7 for all my patients - so what part is non-covered? I've provided email and phone visits beyond what I should have, as I'm a bit of a patsy. That has changed and I now either direct

them through my official Virtual Visit system or ask them to make an office

appointment. I have some insurers who are covering email and phone visits... which makes things complicated.My solution, which I am considering implementing, is to have a subscription website for my patients. I have already created a Joomla-based subscription website for a health coaching program I am offering, and when I saw how that worked, I realized I could do the same for my practice. The content available to 'subscribers' would be helpful information re: current health news, my advice on cholesterol, vitamins, nutrition, sunscreen, yada yada. The subscription site would provide the secure contact forms for phone visits and email visits (at no additional charge above the subscription fee). Patients without a subscription would still be able to access limited parts of the site such as appointments and contact info... but they would not be able to access email or phone visits and thus, would need to

make an office visit. This creates a clean system- either in or out and I don't have to keep track (the only way to request an email or phone visit will be if they are a subscriber). Payments for the subscription site are handled by a module in the site and automatically notify them of expiration.I believe that this set up eliminates my risk in regards to a NCBF... where some insurance company would say I have to be available by phone within reason to all patients, or where some insurance plans are covering email and phone visits and thus, those servcies could not be included in a NCBF for those beneficiaries. In my mind, the subscription access to the enhanced website content is clearly a non-medical service and is non-covered. They will also receive newsletters with extra content. And the benefit of having access to set up email and phone visits versus having to come in for an office visit seems like it would be

considered valuable for many of my patients. And its very much the way I want to interact with patients- sending out info of value to them and interacting with them as appropriate outside the office.The only hitch I can foresee in my plan might be that an insurer could say that I have to offer all patients the same services. Not sure if that is in any of my contracts or not. I don't think it would be an issue since technically all patients are offered the subscription service... and I don't think they can argue about the email and phone visits if I don't charge for them specifically.The cost of such a website is minimal. Joomla is free and generally easy to set up on a server. It then takes a bit to figure out how to load content, but once you understand it, its easy and very adaptable on the fly. The subscription management module

would be the

only purchase other than website hosting you would need to make if you were interested in a similar set up.Carla To: Sent: Mon, January 10, 2011 4:51:02 PMSubject: "non covered" benefits (revisited) I modified my HealthyAccess (non-covered benefit fee-NCBF)in 2011 because Regence BC/BS took issue with patients not having a choice.

(This came about due to a complaint from a

non-patient who has not been heard from since he filed the complaint with BCBS)New plan is to allow patients to choose:A) Healthyaccess 24x7 unlimited communication by phone or email with doc(me) for $100/year, waive HealthyAccess (the unlimited communication part). Still get 24 x 7 access but have to pay $4/minute after hours and $10 per email. (if not related to an office visit, prescription refill, or scheduling an office visit)I still feel strongly that getting paid a small stipend to be personally "on call" 24 x 7 for my patients and be willing to talk and email on the small stuff without forcing office visits is a worthwhile service. I don't feel good about plan B because I didn't want two tiers, but I feel forced to offer it and I'm hoping that not too many patients choose it. Would rather open the flood gates to communication then shut it down, but I feel like I've got to provide an alternative in order to work with

BC/BS and it wasn't worth leaving BC/BS over it. Nor do I want to ditch the NCBF which I think any other professional giving this level of service would require from clients/patients.I would appreciate any and all feedback from the group. Stew MonesIf anyone believes that the OIG would take issue with this set up, let me know or send me a link to check out. Thanks