In late November of 2016 my father expectedly died at home. I spoke with him on Thanksgiving, only for the neighbor to find him dead early Saturday morning, when visiting for coffee.
This diary, isn’t about that. Condolence messages are unwarranted.
This diary is about the paperwork, which I became privy-to, in his passing.
That Medicare — not Medicaid — was invoiced for over $200,000 in 2015, and for just over $180,000 in the 11 months of 2016.
That’s the reason for this diary.
That my late father held a supplemental policy with AARP, a Union policy as well, and paid the maximum out-of-pocket by statute? There was a metric shit-ton of money spent on him, with no perceivable benefit.
My not-so-thorough calculations arrives at $450,000 to $480,000 for the two years, 2015-16.
I say not-so-thorough, as I haven’t itemized his payments to pharmacies, nor to other auxiliary or ancillary providers. I haven’t added in the adjustable bed, nor the soft casts required for his feet, when malpractice resulted in ruptured tendons and a fall — on hard tile. Thankfully, no hip fracture.
Yes, “malpractice” — as when you prescribe both the oral steroid (for COPD) and the contra-indicated antibiotic? It’s “on you”. Despite your protests of:
”He might have had a touch of the pneumonia.”
Pneumonia is like Pregnancy. You have it, or you don’t.
”This is very rare, I’ve only seen this 5 or 6 times before.”
With a dozen or more effective antibiotics at your disposal, some of which cost LESS than the one prescribed? Perhaps this is the “practice” part of The Practice of Medicine.
You keep trying the same thing, until the results change.
Back to the issue which faces ALL of us: How much a cabal of medical “practitioners” invoices for minimal services.
Minimal. Six non-contiguous days of admission to the hospital in 2015, three of which resulted in the malpractice.
No hospice, no nursing care, no nursing home confinement, no admission-to rehabilitation, nor a rehab stay after hospitalization.
He did have 4 wisdom teeth extracted. A second cataract surgery, the first being self-pay/union insurance long ago.
Ongoing physicals? Provided by the VA.
Cancer screenings? Paid for by the Mesothelioma settlement.
So… what was ~ $200,000 paying-for? Weekly consults, weekly testing, monthly chest x-rays, spirometry, and “consult” after “consult” after “follow-up with your PCP” ~ which required more “testing” due to “inconclusive results”.
Cliff Notes Version: My father, and the US taxpayer was farmed-for-cash by an abusive medical system. While I’m no fan of AARP, and refuse membership, their case manager put a halt to some of the most abusive practices. Thus saving AARP, and Medicare, some $60,000 in 2016.
My father, and his estate? Still paid the maximum out-of-pocket, and was invoiced for “unresolved billing” dating back 3 years prior to the close of Probate.
I sent one invoice back to his malpractice provider, offering to litigate the few hundred dollars supposedly denied by insurers, and unpaid.
I witnessed that you couldn’t leave without tendering the co-pay, in cash or by debit card?
I welcomed the chance to testify as to the services rendered and the unpaid balance.
Credit cards weren’t accepted — probably due to challenges being made ipso facto.
Probate closed prior to a reply, though the mail still comes.
I was teh sad.
I’d have relished asking how much is due, when crippling an octogenarian for “only the fifth or sixth time”.
My caution to readers?
It’s time to ask WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR prior to asking about who’s paying FOR it.
Obama Care? Cheeto Care? Who Cares?!
When we talk taxes, fees and COSTS — we should be concerned about COSTS. Costs drive legislation. But lets be honest.
We taxpayers are told to “respect the doctors and nurses” and stop asking those questions.
Our legislators (R) (D) (I) are PAID to not allow that question to come to the floor. Hard and Soft money ensure that the “fifth largest segment of the US economy, soon to be the fourth” is not, in any way, shape or form, ever questioned. That has squat to do with compensation paid to Physicians, Nurses, and Technicians.
There’s a metric shit-ton of money to be made by Health Care conglomerates/corporations, the “right people” are pre-positioned, and reaping a windfall profit.
So just SHUT UP AND PAY ~ we can figure out for what, later. Way later.
After the “right people” cash-out.