Hospice faces cuts in Medicare reimbursements

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Hospice faces cuts in Medicare reimbursements
Care for the dying is threatened, though advocates say hospices save money
Kate Santich | Sentinel Staff Writer
September 17, 2008

Eighty-five-year-old Doris Rush calls the hospice nurses who come to her Longwood home twice a week "angels."

They check her ailing heart, record her blood pressure and adjust her medication. They ask her a litany of questions about her health, making sure she doesn't need further care.

"It's just a blessing to have them," Rush said.

But proposed changes to the Medicare reimbursement system might threaten the ability of hospices to care for patients such as Rush. A national organization has sued to stop the Bush administration from putting the changes scheduled for Oct. 1 into effect.



Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/health/orl-hospice1708sep17,0,4337070.story

[Trillo]

1. Makes so much more sense to SAVE THE BANKS

and the INSURANCE corporations! Billions and billions! QUICK, too, no "red-tape" delays!

Dying people? Ho hum.... Let them eat cake -- if they can keep it down. If they can't? Ho hum....

[PA Democrat]

2. You beat me to it.

Our society prioritizes wealth at the expense of the least among us.

[izzie]

3. I am worried about the banks. My retirement is way down but

the medical is a scary thing also. I went to my reg. doctor for an ear problem and I wanted it checked out before it got really bad and I was in pain all the time. I had my weight, temp and blood pres. done by a nurse, doctor fixed the ear( about 5 min. no pills etc.) The bill came in and it cost 450.00. Now Medicare will pay for some but I am still looking at 250. as a bill until my med-i-gap comes in if it does. I keep getting a call to get my yearly check up and it is to scary to call them back. By all means lets have the feds bail out the ins, com. nepotism must keep going. How can the country go on with out the CEO's of these com. not getting millions a year? I am so sure some of it will drip down to me.

[Trillo]

4. Thought I'd kick this again,

given that the discussion about the corporate bailouts is so hot. This is a reminder of the sacrifices being made so that a few uberrich folks (Top 400) can continue to live like kings through transfer payments from the poor, while we (the poor) squander about on minimum wage or less.

Hospice saves money versus other medical options.