Glossary of Terms

Health Care Disciplines: Healthcare disciplines are the different types of healthcare professionals. The following are the types of healthcare professionals that are contracted with AHE:

Audiology: The study of hearing. Audiologists focus on disorders of the ear. Many disorders cause a decrease in, or a loss of normal hearing. Audiologists also focus on preventing hearing disorders by early detection of potential problems.

Chiropractic: Chiropractors focus on disorders involving the spine. Chiropractors treat “subluxations”. A subluxation is a misalignment of one or more vertebrae causing a loss of normal nerve transmission, fixation of the spine, and a decrease in spinal motion. Chiropractors reduce subluxations by “adjusting” the spine. Chiropractors emphasize measures in order to prevent spinal subluxations. In addition to spinal adjustments, some chiropractors also adjust other areas, like the wrists, shoulders, knees, ribs, etc.

Dentistry: Dentists treat disorders involving the teeth, gums, and their surrounding tissues. Prevention is a major focus in the dental field. Dentists also deal with many disorders. Certainly, the most common things that dentists treat are tooth decay and gum disease. However, many dentists offer services in order to provide patients with beautiful smiles. This leads to an increase in self confidence and can literally change lives. There are many specialists in the dental field. Some of the more common are endodontists, prostodontists, and orthodontists.

Optometry: Optometrists treat various disorders involving the eye. The eyes are extremely delicate. Optometrists deal with visual loses and disease. Optometrists emphasize prevention, as many eye disorders are irreversible.

Other Common Terms:

CPT Codes: these are numeric codes used in healthcare offices. Each code represents a specific procedure or treatment.

Fee Schedule: A fee schedule is a list of charges for various procedures used in healthcare offices. Fee schedules for each discipline are listed in this web site.

Percentage of Usual & Customary Fee: AHE providers offer discounts to patients in our network. These discounts range from 5% to 35% off the usual & customary fee schedule. The dollar amounts of different procedures for each level of discount are listed in the fee schedule of each discipline. These fees are the amounts that AHE providers will charge you when you are treated in their offices.

Procedure: A procedure is a treatment that is administered by a healthcare professional or at a healthcare facility.

Provider: A provider is a doctor or other healthcare professional. It can also refer to a clinic or other healthcare facility.

Usual & Customary Fee: A usual & customary fee is considered the reasonable amount charged at a healthcare facility in a given area. Essentially, this is the fee that is set as acceptable by insurance companies, state healthcare boards, or professional organizations. Although offices are allowed to set their own fees for various procedures, these are the common fees for the area that their office is in. It takes into consideration the amount that it costs to do business in an area. As such, the usual & customary fees in smaller areas may be less than in larger cities.