Nurse Life Care Plan
Nurse Life Care Planning is a specialized area of nursing practice dealing with individuals who sustained a catastrophic injury/illness. The nursing process and nursing care plan is the foundation of Nurse Life Care Planning. Just as in nursing school and clinical settings, Nurse Life Care Planners use the nursing process to formulate a plan of care which is entitled a Nurse Life Care Plan. The Nurse Life Care Plan process follows the standards set forth by the American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners (AANLCP) and the nursing process. The highlights of the nursing process include assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The Nurse Life Care Plan is a tool used for estimating medical and nonmedical needs of a client with a catastrophic injury/illness. The Nurse Life Care Plan uses a collaborative approach of various Health Care Providers and their opinions. The Nurse Life Care Plan is intended to follow the client throughout his/her lifetime to ensure funds will be available to properly care for the client. The Nurse Life Care Plan is specific to the individual based on his/her needs. It is an estimate of medical care and costs based on the assessment and may be modified or reviewed as life situations change. The contents of the Nurse Life Care Plan may be comprehensive or modified based on the needs of the requestor.

Nurse Life Care Planners function in a variety of settings. Depending on the nature of the case, the Nurse Life Care Planner can be hired as a consultant or expert witness. A Nurse Life Care Planner assists insurance companies, employers, plaintiff attorneys, and defense attorneys in the settlement process by identifying future needs and associated costs. A Nurse Life Care Planner can also be hired by individuals who are planning for their future care or a loved one's future care.

Life Care Plan Review
A Life Care Plan Review is requested when the opposing counsel has completed a Life Care Plan in a litigated case. The plaintiff or defense attorney requests a Life Care Plan Review to assist in understanding the true value of the case. Opposing Life Care Plans may be under or over estimated when determining future medical care. There may have been error in calculating the future medical care. Also, opposing Life Care Plans may leave out essential future medical care or potential complications related to the catastrophic injury/illness. The plaintiff or defense attorney requests a Life Care Plan Review by a Nurse Life Care Planner to understand the impact of the medical condition in relation to future medical care or probable medical complications. A Life Care Plan Review will assist the attorneys for preparing for mediation or court trial. Also, the Nurse Life Care Planner may be requested to discuss the Life Care Plan Review in court.

Medical Cost Projection
A Medical Cost Projection is a snap shot of future medical care and related costs. It is an abbreviated version of a Life Care Plan. A Medical Cost Projection may be requested when taking a proactive approach to cost containment in the initial stages of the injury/illness. A Medical Cost Projection may be requested to understand the specifics of the medical condition and projected medical care as well as potential complications. Also, a Medical Cost Projection may be requested for preparation of mediation in the settlement process. A Medical Cost Projection is not recommended for litigated cases which will result in a jury trial.

Medicare Set-Aside Allocations
Medicare demands that their interest be taken into consideration when settling cases where the settlement funds include payment for future medical care. If not, Medicare can take legal action to recover funds and the Medicare benefits can be negatively impacted in the future. In certain cases, Medicare requires that future related Medicare allowable medical care be set-aside from the settlement funds and Medicare must review/approve the adequacy of the amount. This is the conception of a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA). The MSA Allocation is a detailed report which determines future medical care and what is acceptable/covered by Medicare. During the settlement process, it is imperative that you understand when and how the case should be evaluated to assure Medicare's interest has been taken into consideration.

Medicare Set-Aside Allocations includes several components: Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement (MSA), Medicare confirmation/lien verification, submission to Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and professional administration of the MSA. Depending on the nature of the case, all components or specific components of the MSA process can be completed for the referral source.

Care Management/Nurse Advocacy
Care Management/Nurse Advocacy services involve assisting a catastrophically injured/ill person in their medical treatment/recovery and return to optimal functioning within the community. The Nurse Care Manager/Nurse Advocate acts as a liaison between the injured/ill person, health care providers, employer, insurance carrier, attorneys, and trustee/guardian. Care Management/Nurse Advocacy services promote a 'patient advocate' relationship while providing cost effective services to reduce the overall costs of insurance claims or medical bills. Care Management/Nurse Advocacy services assist in identifying medical concerns and health care options, provide early intervention to reduce medical complications, and allow the person/family to make health care decisions.

Nurse Care Management/Nurse Advocacy services include an assessment of the injured/ill person's medical and non-medical needs; identification of necessary medical resources, coordination/facilitation of appropriate medical and non-medical recommendations, and an evaluation the person's medical recovery.

Vocational case management services include an assessment of the injured/ill person's employment/education history, identification of barriers (physical, mental, behavioral, environmental, etc.) preventing the person from returning to gainful employment, vocational testing to identify alternate employment opportunities, and assisting the person in returning to employment/productive lifestyle.

Mediation & Settlement Consultation
Mediation and settlement consultation services assist the plaintiff or defense attorney in understanding the true value of the case. A Nurse Life Care Planner utilizes nursing experience and insight in identifying and resolving potential legal cases.
Mediation and settlement consultation services may include:

• Obtain, organize, review and analyze medical records
• Compile medical records into timelines and chronological order
• Detect record inconsistencies and conflicting information in medical records
• Form a comprehensive picture of medical treatment and the client's recovery
• Assist attorney/client in understanding life-altering injuries/illnesses and interpret complex medical terminology
• Conduct medical research and educate the attorney/client about potential medical complications
• Recommend appropriate medical resources to facilitate the client's recovery
• Provide assessment of future medical treatment and associated costs
• Communicate with medical/health care providers regarding medical condition and treatment plan

Educational Courses
Educational courses are provided in Medicare Set-Asides and Nurse Life Care Planning.