tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post7913822049140746105..comments2023-08-24T00:28:08.108-07:00Comments on Why is American health care so expensive?: More reasons why Medicare costs are too high: hospice care is grossly overpricedJanice Boughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02321947802871503562noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post-88127639747811056842012-09-21T15:28:54.696-07:002012-09-21T15:28:54.696-07:00My brother just returned form the local Walgreens ...My brother just returned form the local Walgreens Drug store after pricing the cost of a wheel chair for our 93 year old Mother. He could purchase an inexpensive chair for about $150.00 but was informed that for Medicare to purchase one for her he would have to go to a medical supply company. He proceeded to two local medical supply and was shocked to learn that in order for him to obtain one through Medicare, he would have to lease one for a year and then it would be her's at no additional cost. The lease fees monthly (billed to Medicare) would be $150 +/- or about $1800 for a chair that he could have purchased at Walgreens for $150. I am 63 and worry that Medicare will not be available for me in 2 years and more so for my wife in 5 years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post-17278151421102664262012-09-09T15:57:56.452-07:002012-09-09T15:57:56.452-07:00I am in agreement! Hospice billed Medicare over $...I am in agreement! Hospice billed Medicare over $4,000 for 8 nurse's visits (15 minutes or less each time) and 2 brief visits by the social worker for my mother. And Medicare pays it! It breaks down to over $400 per visit. How can this possibly be justified? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post-63641755965641194562012-08-01T10:36:41.456-07:002012-08-01T10:36:41.456-07:00I just received the summary of charges for my moth...I just received the summary of charges for my mother's hospice and am outraged! Close to $7,000 for the month of March. The RN comes twice a week for blood pressure & pulse at $199 per 15 minute visit, a social worker comes once a month at $400 per 15 minute visit, a hospital bed is supplied and a "comfort kit" but that is the extent of services. The hospice "accountant" explained to me that everyone is charged the same per diem and that some have more expenses than others, but that it all balances out. I see now why Medicare is in such a pickle... $800 per hour for an RN... $1600 per hour for a social worker? I'm told by hospice that Medicare sets these charges and they are just following the guidelines. Health care is expensive but this is ridiculous! What can be done?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post-19268747614982917642011-10-19T20:15:41.662-07:002011-10-19T20:15:41.662-07:00I have thought about how I could actually find out...I have thought about how I could actually find out where all of this money goes, but that's a hard thing to do. I'm sure the nurses don't get it, absolutely sure the aids don't get it, completely convinced that the managing physicians don't get it (because I am often a managing physician and I make nothing from supervision of hospice care.) A friend of mine was hired as a hospice director, a physician, and she wasn't making that much (before resigning because of mismanagement.) So that leaves administration, which includes documentation, billing and maintaining the business. And profits. Is there just a stupendous amount of waste, or are the company executives very well paid?Janice Boughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02321947802871503562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post-24569499388306841652011-10-19T02:10:52.543-07:002011-10-19T02:10:52.543-07:00My father is receiving hospice care for terminal d...My father is receiving hospice care for terminal dementia in NYC and I also<br />am outraged by the charges being paid by Medicare. ($5485 base per month plus $210 per day for an aide and $262.50 for a nurse) This for an aide for 20 hours a week (the daily rate received by hospice is paid every day of the month) As to the extra services, with all due regard, the social worker hasn't been needed since the second visit and the clergy not at all (but he still comes) If we need an antibiotic or other new prescription, we have to contact my father's doctor because the hospice doctor is often unavailable. And charges are made for visits by all these people every 60 days to recertify eligibility for remaining on the program. I won't even go into what the Government pays for rental of medical equipment, which is so high that it alone should be the subject of an investigation. In short charges are now being made at the rate of $120,000 per year for my father and while we value the services of the aide and nurse, the "non-profit" is making a bundle and no one is watching the store.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post-16021150247878290142011-09-16T06:50:24.001-07:002011-09-16T06:50:24.001-07:00While I appreciate this blog I take umbrage with t...While I appreciate this blog I take umbrage with this particular post. On average individuals are enrolled in hospice for 65 days. Medicare reimbursement for routine home care is about $140. For an individual receiving hospice care for 65 days at that rate costs Medicare $9100. Your description of hospice services is incomplete. Hospice provides people services, physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, social worker, chaplain, volunteer support and bereavement services to the family for 13 months after an individual dies. Moreover, it includes all medications related to the primary diagnosis and all the medical equipment a patient needs (hospital bed, wheelchair, walker, oxygen, etc.). Your calculation of the cost of a particular discipline per hour is very misleading. As you may be aware the hospice team meets regularly to discuss an individual's goals of care and there is much that goes on outside of being face to face with a patient that are aimed at maximizing a quality of life. <br />You are right to point out that the utilization of hospice care is a cost-savings for Medicare as it not only improves quality of life but also reduces hospitalizations, recurring trips to the ER and the pursuit of expensive treatment options aimed at a cure that are more of a burden that benefit. Those interested in reducing healthcare expenses should be advocating for the broader application and utilization of palliative care services generally and hospice care in particular. Hospice care is in a financial crisis due to rate cuts and required face-to-face (physician to patient) for re-certification if a patient lives past 6 months of admission. Indeed for many hospices sustainability and solvency are a concern. I hope you will reconsider your perspective on this issue. Thank you.TWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post-84326992298685519692011-08-03T10:13:21.187-07:002011-08-03T10:13:21.187-07:00Yes, especially if there is such a glaring lack of...Yes, especially if there is such a glaring lack of oversight. There is a very real concern about national debt, and realization that health care costs, especially medicare, significantly impact that, yet we seem unable to use data like this, which is freely available, to cut costs without reducing services.Janice Boughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02321947802871503562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350181109033523476.post-70997513957125154132011-08-03T04:34:52.605-07:002011-08-03T04:34:52.605-07:00By their numbers alone, the boomers will severely ...By their numbers alone, the boomers will severely tax the federal health care system, at a time when Washington is struggling to curb growing Medicare costs.WISPRhttp://www.gotvape.com/store/wispr-vaporizer.phpnoreply@blogger.com