Nose News is Good News®! Best Doctors Award 2009 Howard L. Levine, MD * Cleveland Nasal Sinus & Sleep Center

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BREAKING NEWS: Aetna Health Insurance Re-instates Howard Levine, MD

On August 13, 2010, Aetna Health Insurance Company notified Dr. Levine that for no cause or reason his participation in the Aetna networks would terminate on December 15, 2010.

This unjustified termination notification prompted many of Dr. Levine's patients to write passionate letters of disappointment and complaint to the Aetna Health Insurance Company detailing their years of attentive, thoughtful, conscientious and healing care from Dr. Levine for their complicated sinus problems.

Aetna Health Insurance Company heard the patients' shock and outrage and has completely rescinded the unwarranted termination.

To all of Dr. Levine's Aetna Health Insured patients, your care will continue uninterrupted and unchanged.

Never under estimate the power of the people and the pen!

Latest News about your Health Insurance Coverage

The Ohio Department of Insurance offers every Ohioan the opportunity to APPEAL a health coverage decision made by your insurer. Ohio law may allow consumers who have been previously denied coverage for a health insurance claim or have had coverage reduced or terminated the right to request an appeal of their insurer's decision.

If you have a question out the health coverage appeals process, call the Ohio Department of Insurance hotline: 1-800-686-1526.

In some cases, patients need the physician's help in the appeal process. If necessary and with your consent, Dr. Levine will help with your appeal.

How to Appeal a Health Coverage Decision Made by your Insurer

Ambulatory/Out Patient Nasal and Sinus Surgery Determined SAFE!

New information from recent studies shows that outpatient nasal and sinus surgery has been determined to be safe!

Each year throughout the United States, outpatient surgery centers perform about 600,000 nasal and sinus operations and the most recent studies (Ambulatory sinus and nasal surgery in the United States. Laryngoscope, 120:635-638, 2010) show that patients are having great success with safety and comfort.

WHAT DOES THE DATA TELL US?

Of the hundreds of thousands of nose and sinus procedures performed each year, only 2.65% of patients required hospital admission from a surgery center after the nose and/or sinus surgery. Also notice the following important outcomes:

No serious complications like heart attack or need for blood transfusion was reported.
Vomiting occurred after surgery in 1.3% of patients.
The need to visit an emergency room after surgery was 0.1%.

For your convenience, Howard Levine, MD and Cleveland Nasal Sinus & Sleep Center try to schedule every patient’s procedure in an outpatient surgery center. Dr. Levine always strives to provide safe and effective surgery for every patient.

Have questions? Contact Cleveland Nasal Sinus & Sleep Center: 440-684-9980.

Outcome Data

In an effort to promote quality improvement, the Cleveland Nasal Sinus & Sleep Center wishes to publically share a summary of Outcome data employed at the Center.

Download Cleveland Nasal Sinus Outcome Data

HOWARD LEVINE, MD Named one of the Best Doctors in America®
2011-2012

NEWS: October, 2010: For the 19th consecutive year, Howard Levine, MD, has once again been included in the very prestigious Best Doctors in America®, 2011-2012 edition. The Best Doctors in America® is a highly valued patient resource of quality and talented physicians who have earned the consensus support of their peers.

9-24-09 Cleveland, Ohio Dr. Howard L. Levine is one of the Best Doctors in America® for 2009-10. This is the seventeenth time that Dr. Levine has earned this prestigious honor.

Of the over 7500 Board Certified Otolaryngologists in the world, Howard Levine, MD is voted one of top 93 sinus doctors; As voted by Best Doctors in America®.

Compiled by Boston-based Best Doctors, Inc., the Best Doctors in America® database is the result of an exhaustive survey of more than 45,000 physicians in the United States. Only those doctors recognized to be in the top 3-5% of their specialty earn the honor of being named one of the Best Doctors in America®.

Over the last 20 years, Best Doctors has earned worldwide acclaim for its remarkable database of physicians. The Best Doctors database is the world's premier effort to create a validated, peer-reviewed database of excellence in medicine. The Best Doctors methodology is rigorously impartial and strictly independent. Doctors cannot pay to be included in the database and are not paid to complete the survey. The only way to be recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America® is for a doctor to earn high marks for clinical ability from his or her peers.

About Best Doctors, Inc.

Best Doctors, Inc. is the world leader in connecting people with the best medical care.
Best Doctors services help dramatically improve quality of care by bringing the clinical knowledge of the world’s top specialists to the problems of people with serious medical conditions. By making sure individuals get the right diagnosis and treatment the first time, Best Doctors reduces complications and avoids ineffective treatments—and as a result eliminates unnecessary spending. Founded in 1989 by doctors affiliated with Harvard Medical School to provide doctor-to-doctor consultations for complicated cases, Best Doctors has grown into an international company providing services to 15 million people in 30 countries. For more information please visit www.bestdoctors.com

Howard Levine, MD: Top Doc - March 2009!

Howard Levine, MD is listed in the March 2009 issue of Cleveland Magazine as one of the TOP DOCS in Northeast Ohio.

The Cleveland Magazine used data compiled by Boston-based Best Doctors, Inc. The Best Doctors in America® database is the result of an exhaustive survey of more than 40,000 physicians in the United States. Only those doctors recognized to be in the top 3-5% of their specialty earn the honor of being named one of the Best Doctors in America®.

Howard L. Levine MD named one of the BEST DOCTORS in America®

September 26, 2007 Cleveland Ohio Howard L. Levine, MD is one of the Best Doctors in America® for 2007-08. Dr. Levine was elected by his peers for inclusion in Best Doctors in America from 1992 to 2008.

Compiled by Boston-based Best Doctors, Inc., the Best Doctors in America® database is the result of an exhaustive survey of more than 40,000 physicians in the United States. Only those doctors recognized to be in the top 3-5% of their specialty earn the honor of being named one of the Best Doctors in America®.

Press Release April 17, 2008

Cleveland physician, Howard Levine, MD,
Lead author in Chronic Sinus Study that may help millions
Research Verifies Balloon Sinuplasty™ Technology Is Safe, Patient-Friendly, Economical

Cleveland, OH – April 17, 2008 – An independent study published this week in Annals of Otology, Rhinology, & Laryngology confirms Balloon Sinuplasty™ technology safely opens narrow sinuses, is economical and highly satisfactory to chronic sinusitis patients. The peer-reviewed study analyzes the outcome of more than 1,100 individuals treated with this minimally-invasive balloon technology, Balloon Sinuplasty™ from Acclarent, a leading developer of innovative medical technologies for ear, nose and throat surgeons.

On behalf of the 34 surgeons who took part in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology, & Laryngology study, Dr. Howard Levine, director of the Cleveland Nasal, Sinus and Sleep Center said, “The results from these studies reinforce the outstanding safety record of Balloon Sinuplasty™ technology, and underscore its effectiveness in alleviating chronic sinusitis symptoms. Results were universally excellent across a large population of patients and dozens of different practices.”

Studies Confirm Balloon Sinuplasty™ Benefits
Chronic sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal sinuses afflicting an estimated 37 million Americans annually. Symptoms include facial pain or pressure, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing through the nose, and fatigue. Although antibiotics and topical steroids can help many people, approximately 500,000 U.S. patients undergo surgery each year to alleviate the symptoms of chronic sinusitis.

Balloon Sinuplasty™ technology is similar in concept to catheters used in the heart for balloon angioplasty. The specially designed devices are threaded into the sinus passageways and gently inflated, widening the passages to promote drainage and resolution of chronic sinusitis symptoms. The technology can be used alone or with standard surgical instrumentation.

Recovery times vary but patients frequently return to normal activities within 24 hours of treatment. Since 2005, more than 2,500 sinus surgeons have been trained world wide on this technology and treated more than 25,000 patients.

Acclarent, Inc. is a privately held medical device company in Menlo Park, CA that was established in June of 2004. Its singular focus is improving patient care in all areas of otolaryngology by developing and producing medical devices solely for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists and their patients. Acclarent is demonstrating this by investing in innovative technologies, clinical studies, and physician training. The company received FDA clearance to market Balloon Sinuplasty™ technology in early 2005.

For a conversation with Dr. Levine, call 216-518-3298. www.clevelandnasalsinus.com.
For more information, visit www.acclarent.com.

Download Press Release

Dr. Howard Levine Uses Balloon Sinuplasty

Sinus Management Innovation Leads to an Evaluation in Practice Patterns

Howard Levine, M.D., Director of the Cleveland Nasal-Sinus & Sleep Center, is one of the world's pioneers in the development of advanced nasal endoscopic diagnostic techniques, functional sinus surgery, and advanced applications for managing nasal and sinus disease. Click here to read more about what Dr. Levine describes as a "new technology [that] opens the door for better patient. care ...and quick recovery with minimal discomfort allowing patients to return to all of their normal routines in a very short time." Download the pdf to read the full Issue

Best Doctors in America Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2007

For More Information:
Howard L. Levine, MD
Cleveland Nasal Sinus & Sleep Center
5555 Transportation Blvd., Suite C
Cleveland, Ohio 44125
(216) 518-3298 or 1-800-24-SINUS

HOWARD L LEVINE, MD NAMED ONE OF THE BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA®

Over the last 15 years, Best Doctors has earned worldwide acclaim for its remarkable database of physicians. The Best Doctors database is the world's premier effort to create a validated, peer-reviewed database of excellence in medicine. The Best Doctors methodology is rigorously impartial and strictly independent. Doctors cannot pay to be included in the database and are not paid to complete the survey. The only way to be recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America® is for a doctor to earn high marks for clinical ability from his or her peers.

About Best Doctors, Inc.

Best Doctors, Inc. is the world leader in connecting people with the best medical care.
Best Doctors services help dramatically improve quality of care by bringing the clinical knowledge of the world’s top specialists to the problems of people with serious medical conditions. By making sure individuals get the right diagnosis and treatment the first time, Best Doctors reduces complications and avoids ineffective treatments—and as a result eliminates unnecessary spending. Founded in 1989 by doctors affiliated with Harvard Medical School to provide doctor-to-doctor consultations for complicated cases, Best Doctors has grown into an international company providing services to 10 million people in 30 countries. For more information please visit www.bestdoctors.com

Seasonal Breathing Hints - All Year Long

Smoking

Smoking irritates all of your nasal passages and aggravates vasomotor rhinitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma. Smokers snore more than non-smokers. Second hand smoke--the smoke from a burning cigarette--contains over 4,000 different chemicals, at least 40 of which are known to cause cancer. Second hand smoke aggravates vasomotor rhinitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma. Second hand smoke is dangerous for children causing them more ear infections. Generally, children exposed to second hand smoke get sick more often than children not exposed.

Winter

Moist air from humidifiers can relieve stuffy nose. Patients with sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis and congestion report symptomatic relief after inhaling warm humidified air.

Nose bleeds are usually caused by a dry nose. Moisturize with Eucerin Lotion®, Ponaris Oil®, AYR Nasal Gel®, or Nose Better®, Breathe Ease XL Gel®.

Dry nose? Try an over-the-counter saline nasal spray.

Summer

Allergic rhinitis or hay fever? Check on allergy shots and possible medications.

Easy, Safe, and Convenient way to keep your nose clean!

Naväge Nasal Hygiene System is the innovative new way to gently wash the nasal passages with soothing saline, Nature’s Decongestant™.

Other methods like the neti pot and squeeze bottle push salt water through the nasal cavity.

Naväge takes a fresh new approach and gently pulls saline through the nose using light suction.

Dr Levine says: "Nasal irrigation is clinically proven to safe and Effective. Naväge sets the new standard for personal nasal hygiene with its exceptional convenience, comfort and reliability." Check it out: http://www.navage.com/

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Learn About Howard L. Levine MD

Dr. Howard Levine Howard L. Levine MD is one of the pioneers in the development of advanced nasal endoscopic diagnostic techniques, functional endoscopic sinus surgery and advanced applications of radiofrequency energy for nasal and sinus disease. Listed in The Best Doctors in America and Top Doctors in Cleveland, Dr. Levine is world-renowned as an expert in nasal and sinus disorders. Dr. Levine, is a past national president of the American Rhinologic Society (ARS), the world’s largest organization in nasal and sinus disorders.

Advanced Treatments

Sinus Advanced Treatments The cornerstone of Cleveland Nasal Sinus & Sleep Center is our connection to the “latest and greatest” technology that provides to our patients the best outcomes with the least trauma. Howard L. Levine MD is and has been a consultant and primary investigator for several ear, nose and throat medical device companies.