In mediation, the Medicare patient or his or her representative talks with the healthcare provider with the assistance of an impartial mediator. Mediation is a good way for a patient to talk about his or her concerns and to reach a better understanding about what happened or an agreement about what will happen in the future.
What happens in mediation?
Everyone involved has a chance to raise any issues that he or she would like to discuss. The mediator encourages everyone to listen to the concerns of the others. The mediator also encourages the participants to better understand one another and to discuss possible solutions to the issues or concerns. The mediator has no decision-making authority and there is an agreement at the end of mediation only if everyone involved agrees.
Is mediation confidential?
Confidentiality is a key factor in mediation. In order for mediation to be successful, all involved should feel free to talk openly about the events surrounding the patient s care, in order to work through any complaint or conflict. Both state and federal laws protect the confidentiality of most discussions in mediation.
How is mediation scheduled?
Once the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization has obtained a voluntary consent to participate from all involved, a convenient meeting date, time and place are set. The mediation meeting generally takes 2 to 3 hours.
