tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33640467122619610772024-03-13T03:41:23.925-07:00Nora JohnsonNora Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09964000067942702673noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3364046712261961077.post-20901150581719101162011-01-05T08:51:00.000-08:002011-01-05T08:51:08.918-08:00CLEVELAND CLINIC PROFIT FOR 2009 – ONLY $429 MILLION DOLLARS; TIMES ARE HARD…<div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Several articles appeared last month in various Ohio publications blaming the economy which alas, forces The Cleveland Clinic to cut its costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the guise of cost containment, Cleveland Clinic chose to axe the easiest and most vulnerable target: the uninsured patient population. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goodbye to a geographically undesireable segment of Charity Care patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, who is going to complain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uninsured patients have no group representation and no Washington lobbyists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uninsured patients who live more than 150 miles from Cleveland more than likely will not band together to bring the country’s attention to this travesty. </span></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cleveland Clinic issues a cost report annually to the government and for the year 2009, reported a profit of $429 million.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not mentioned in the articles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Charity Care Charges…$120 million-----</span></b></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Charity Care Costs…$34 million</span></b></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What was mentioned: “Just last year, the health system spent roughly $120 million on free or discounted care.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dazzling, unless it is revealed that the $120 million appears to represent <u>gross billed charges</u>……which is baffling compared with a mark-up of at least 386% that Cleveland Clinic forces uninsured patients to pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, Cleveland Clinic reported a very different number to the federal government; the total <u>cost</u> for uncompensated care (charity care, bad debt, etc.) was really 35 million for 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cost is a very different number than charges that are inflated beyond recognition.</span></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">35 million is 12% of 429 million dollars, the profit made by this not-for-profit hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that 12% shrivels into oblivion when compared with the tax exemptions and benefits reaped by NFP status.</span></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">WHITE HATTED NOT-FOR-PROFIT MYTH:</span></b></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Clinic can’t afford to ‘give away’ this much health care? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not for profit clinics reap huge profits from tax exemptions and recently have come under fire from patient advocates and members of Congress and the Senate Finance Committee for stinting on charity care even as they amass large cash hoards, build new facilities and award humongous paychecks to executives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t Cleveland Clinic recently expand to Florida?</span></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">RIDDLE</span></b></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What will be the total charge of a Cleveland Clinic hospital bill for $10K of cost?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="times" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Medicare/Medicaid will pay Cleveland Clinic:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About $11K.</span></div><div class="times" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Big private insurers like the Blues:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About $11K.</span></div><div class="times" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Uninsured or HSA patients must pay:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$38,600.</b></span></div><div class="times" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is it any wonder that uninsured patients have a tough time paying their bills?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t common sense mandate that people not be forced into bankruptcy because of the indefensible piggishness and profiteering not for profits?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the land of Cleveland Clinic’s free flowing cappuccino, the State of Ohio should revisit its qualifications for awarding not-for-profit status to hospitals, especially this one.</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Nora Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09964000067942702673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3364046712261961077.post-89896165681381856952010-11-25T09:15:00.000-08:002010-11-25T09:15:08.779-08:00EMERGENCY ROOM USE AND ABUSE<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Certainly there are people, usually uninsured/underinsured patients, who take advantage of Emergency Rooms for non emergency situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most cases, people who have good health insurance are not compelled to abuse emergency room services, because they can afford preventive medical care and treatment for chronic conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A common theme espoused by many is that Emergency rooms are carrying the entire health care load of costs for anyone that walks in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“People who aren’t citizens get free health care”------ is a common refrain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uninsured patients, under-insured patients, aliens and illegal aliens, and anyone presenting at an Emergency department only qualify for emergent care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means, if an uninsured patient is diagnosed with cancer, or any chronic condition, he/she will <u>not</u> get chemotherapy, radiation, or other on-going treatment for chronic conditions without paying hundreds of thousands of dollars up front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="normalblack" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A well known Cancer hospital in Texas required $105K deposit from an uninsured cancer patient before it would provide care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This t</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">ax-exempt </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">hospital</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> receive</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> tax subsidies from federal, state, and local governments. In addition,</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> this </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">tax-exempt hospital receive</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">s</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> an exemption from income, property and sales taxes, the ability to receive tax-deductible contributions, and the ability to raise capital through the issuance of tax-exempt bonds.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">”*</span></div><div class="normalblack" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="normalblack" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I give THANKS to emergency departments and especially thank the dedicated, underpaid and often burned out medical staff for the miracles they perform daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT is not revolutionary, but rather evolutionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>H</span></strong>ealth care access should be a right for all, and not a privilege of the wealthy.</span></div><div class="normalblack" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="normalblack" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, since the glare of the Wall Street Journal spotlight has shifted from the Texas hospital, has this institution returned to its ‘business as usual’ protocol?</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="normalblack" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">*See:</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Cash Before Chemo: Hospitals Get Tough”</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Wall Street Journal 4/28/08.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>Nora Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09964000067942702673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3364046712261961077.post-48888223559455906252010-11-10T08:16:00.000-08:002010-11-10T08:16:51.417-08:00WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PAYING IN “ADVANCE” FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PAYING IN “ADVANCE” FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES. </span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately some hospital emergency room personnel have misled patients or their family members by insinuating that a payment, cash or credit card is required <u>before the patient receives treatment!</u> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, a credit balance must be paid before emergency care can be given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an abomination, exploits the most vulnerable among us, and violates federal law, and the hospitals know it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you have a healthcare insurance card, by all means give it to registration personnel. If you don’t have insurance, and registration asks for either an advance payment or a credit/debit card, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ASK HIM/HER TO PUT THIS REQUEST IN WRITING ON HOSPITAL STATIONERY AND SIGN AND PRINT HIS/HER NAME! </span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></u></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If registration insinuates that payment is required before treatment, you can bet the payment request will vanish when you demand it in writing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emergency room medical personnel save lives. These medical professionals are dedicated and are not interested in a patient’s finances. They focus on saving lives, and do this because it is their moral and ethical imperative. The job they do is independent of financial considerations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so with the finance departments of hospitals.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Conclusion: Don’t misinterpret the intention of this blog and conclude that I think hospitals don’t have to make money. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emergency rooms are usually financial loss centers for hospitals while most profits emanate from other departments——especially in large hospitals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, hospitals that elect to participate with Medicare/Medicaid are eligible for federal funding, state funding, tax exemptions, etc. that more than adequately compensate them for uncompensated care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hospitals profiteer from uninsured and underinsured patients by making them pay 250% to 1,000% more than ‘cost’ or what the government or the Blues and other insurance companies pay for the same service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is fair, why?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When lives are at stake, and people are confronted with the loss of their own life, or worse yet, the loss of a loved one’s life, money should play no role in that equation——–not in America, and that’s why we have EMTALA. Oh, that this was so in the rest of the health care arena!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><br />
</div>Nora Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09964000067942702673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3364046712261961077.post-69252505590804946012010-11-07T13:34:00.000-08:002010-11-07T13:34:49.619-08:00EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT EMERGENCY ROOMS… BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT EMERGENCY ROOMS… BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!</em> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By: Nora Johnson</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emergency rooms are actually a department within a hospital-based facility that provides the setting for emergency health care services provided on a 24/7 basis.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is an Emergency?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The federal government uses the “Prudent Layperson” definition which is: “…a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that a prudent layperson, with an</span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <u>average knowledge of health and medicine, could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in:</u></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in 6.8pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">• </span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Serious jeopardy to the health of the individual or, in the case of a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her unborn child;</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in 6.8pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">• </span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Serious impairment to bodily functions; or</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in 6.8pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">• </span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Translated, this simply means that the average person, dealing with a life or death situation, does not have to be a qualified healthcare professional to decide to access emergency room services, and you don’t have to feel guilty, or think you might be legally liable if the patient’s suspected heart attack turned out to be indigestion. </span></span></div><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Federal Law governing Emergency Rooms - EMTALA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">From my <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction</u></b> file:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A caring neighbor found her next-door, lady-friend suffering from chest pain and drove her to the ER.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as the patient was ushered into the ER, the good neighbor was asked to give patient information to the registration desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the spirit of caring cooperation, she reported vital information: patient’s name, address, etc. as well as her own name and contact information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A month later, our caring neighbor got her friend’s ER bill from the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she called to straighten out the mistake, the hospital informed her that her neighbor had no insurance, so the caring neighbor, who signed the admission form, was liable for the bill!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Sounds like this hospital's CFO is trying to profiteer from a variation of the world's oldest profession. The neighbor was in no-way, liable for her friend's bill.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">EMTALA is also known as Section 1867(a) of the Social Security Act. It is included as part of the section of the U.S. Code which governs Medicare. EMTALA is an acronym for Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act and applies to hospitals that participate with Medicare or Medicaid (CMS).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to Michael Walrath, my favorite Esq., this law prevents hospitals from ‘dumping’ or ‘discriminating’ against patients who either have Medicare/Medicaid, or no insurance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>It prohibits hospitals from denying or delaying care based on a patient’s inability to pay.</u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hospital emergency rooms are required by this law to provide “an appropriate medical screening examination” for the purpose of determining if an emergency medical condition exists. If such an emergency does exist, the hospital must either stabilize the patient or transfer the patient to another facility.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Check back for the next blog: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6.8pt 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PAYING IN “ADVANCE” FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES. </span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>Nora Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09964000067942702673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3364046712261961077.post-66547492659195009952010-10-22T16:38:00.000-07:002010-10-22T16:38:49.261-07:00Introduction to Nora's Blog<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This blog is designed to be informative, educational, and thought provoking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal is to encourage honest intellectual exchange that hopefully will enhance knowledge and growth for all participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This blog will similarly discourage and delete incivility, which fosters degradation, and perpetuates ignorance.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This platform champions the rights of those who cannot afford lifesaving health care at current exorbitant prices which only the most underprivileged are forced to pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This platform will also challenge the inaccessibility of our healthcare system to the working poor and disenfranchised families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my podium and readers are forewarned of my biases toward unconscionably profit-driven establishments such as hospitals and health care insurance companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s begin with hospitals.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Medical Necessity versus Fiscal Necessity:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0.25in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hospitals</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> are schizoid institutions partly composed of devoted and educated personnel who are dedicated to curing human illness and injury and saving lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hospitals are composed of ‘other’ departments that exist to ensure institutional financial survival as all businesses must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last 50 years have demonstrated a mutation in financial theory that altered the concept of fiscal necessity required to maintain a healthy continuum, and morphed it into greed mongering…huge profits at any expense to be borne by others.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0.25in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0.25in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How can this happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hospitals enjoy a climate of zero competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In what other universe are consumers forced to agree in advance, in exchange for services and products rendered, to pay an unknown amount of money?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0.25in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0.25in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hospitals compete with each other for market share, but patients (the market share) are clueless about the charges that will be levied by the nearest local hospital or any other hospital for that matter. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0.25in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When the life of a loved one is at stake, who would even think about the charge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is a concept called “undue influence” which is defined as </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">taking a grossly oppressive and unfair advantage of another’s necessities or distress.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are hospitals guilty of this?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let’s see how this plays out in blog 2 --- </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT EMERGENCY ROOMS… *BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Nora Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09964000067942702673noreply@blogger.com2