Between December 1997 and March 2000, we received 8334 CHDR assessment requests: 6074 (72.
Replicate CHDR requests were received on 1307 patients, 1239 (94.
Management of hypercholesterolemia has traditionally been governed by the relative CHDR of the patient, using a specific serum cholesterol concentration to determine the need for treatment.
The Framingham equation is of sufficient mathematical complexity to require the use of a computer; therefore, several authors have constructed risk tables or nomograms based on the equation to avoid formal CHDR calculation (2-4,6).
Because our evaluation preceded this national guidance, it is likely that CHDR requests from primary care physicians will increase in the future.
CHDR uses panels of medical experts and a full time in-house multi-disciplinary staff of health attorneys, nurses, public health experts, and medical record technicians in the review process.
In addition to its federal work, CHDR is certified or contracts with numerous states to conduct reviews of denials by health plans of services based upon issues of medical necessity or coverage policy.
CHDR also provides external review services in the states of Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.
With this accreditation, CHDR is well positioned to capitalize on the external review opportunities developing in the states.
CHDR gives us the best vehicle to capitalize on this emerging government mandate," said David V.
David Richardson, President of CHDR and a national expert in health care dispute resolution, will continue in this role for the new MAXIMUS subsidiary.
CHDR is a 35-employee company with offices in Pittsford (Rochester metropolitan area) and Buffalo, New York.
