More states limiting Medicaid hospital stays

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: USA Today

A growing number of states are sharply limiting hospital stays under Medicaid to as few as 10 days a year to control rising costs of the health insurance program for the poor and disabled.

Advocates for the needy and hospital executives say the moves will restrict access to care, force hospitals to absorb more costs and lead to higher charges for privately insured patients.

States defend the actions as a way to balance budgets hammered by the economic downturn and the end of billions of dollars in federal stimulus funds this summer that had helped prop up Medicaid, financed jointly by states and the federal government.

Arizona, which last year stopped covering certain transplants for several months, plans to limit adult Medicaid recipients to 25 days of hospital coverage a year, starting as soon as the end of October.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-10-23/states-limit-medicaid-hospital-stays/50886398/1

[tawadi]

1. Hawaii plans to cut Medicaid coverage to 10 days a year

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-10-23/states-limit-medicaid-hospital-stays/50886398/1

:wtf:

[Yo_Mama]

4. Why so low?

Florida has a limit, but it is at 45 days. Surely Hawaii can do better than Arkansas?

[Downwinder]

19. I would like to see the figures

that Medicaid patients are abusing the program. If they are in a hospital it is because a Doctor thinks that is where they should be. If Doctors are abusing the program, Patients should not be made to suffer for it. More accountants and politicians practicing medicine without a license.

[CTyankee]

2. Pay to play is now pay to live...

[SoapBox]

5. You are spot on...and remember, JUST DIE QUICKLY!

All while executives in the health industry and pharma, make millions.

...something is just plain wrong in America today and it smells like it's capitalism.

[woo me with science]

13. These people are a drain anyway.

Think how much SS will be freed up if they just die.

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. Happened to a friend of mine.

She went in for shoulder replacement. She had 3 days to get better and get out. But the meds really knocked her for a loop and she couldn't get better fast enough. She is 76 and just couldn't bounce back fast enough.

She had to spend 1 week in long term care facillty. She was in a room that looked like a broom closet.

She got better and got out.

[DMNinFL]

8. That would have been Medicare.

There is something she could have done that would have delayed her discharge.
She could have asked for a "Peer Review". That would have bought her a day or two.
Sometimes longer. It sounds like her Long Term Care stay was paid for
by medicare also. I could be wrong, but that's what it looks like.
I hope she is doing much better now.

[jwirr]

11. Medicare will pay for something like the first 180 days in long term

care. So you are right. Medicaid takes up after that if you are within income guidelines. Otherwise you have to spend your own money first.

[leftyladyfrommo]

21. You're right. It was Medicare.

And she's fine now.

[cppuddy]

6. Medicaid patients are low income,

and have no way of paying anything. They have very little to begin with. The only way this corrects itself is a single payer system. I said it two years ago; the US will have no chose but to switch to a system like that in the next 10 years. Otherwise the cost will be too costly for everyone.

[DMNinFL]

9. You are correct cppuddy!

But I do not advocate a complete single payer system, unless the Republican party just wants to lay down for it.
I am more in favor of a Medicare For All system. This way the insurance industry is still involved and it can't
be claimed that we want to kill the free market system. Medicare was never designed to "do it all". It was designed
to be one heck of a safety net, and it sure is.

Now....... if the Repubs. want to lay down, or are made very small in the next few years, then You bet.
Bring on single payer for one and all.

[jwirr]

12. Just curious: Since Medicare does not pay for long term extended

care and Medicaid takes over for the poor who cannot pay for themselves. How would this be helped in Medicare for All? I am all in favor of this but I personally would prefer Medicaid for All. I have been on both of them.

[DMNinFL]

18. If you have "Medicaid" for all

you will see doctors running for the hills. They will have a difficult time
getting rich. In Medicare For All, a medicaid system would still be needed
to pay for Long Term Care, once the patient has spent down their assets, or
the Spousal Impoverishment Act kicked in. Now....that would depend on the State
and what the benefits would be. This ain't all cut and dry folks.

[jwirr]

20. Exactly. That is a good analysis. I am on both Medicare and Medicaid

because I am low income and it works for me.

[DreamSmoker]

7. Its about prifit

Insurance is running the Show Folks...
Now this is reform you can count on...
So Bend over and spread....

[jwirr]

10. Here in MN there is a limit but it just means that you are moved to

an intensive care nursing home as soon as possible. Often the nursing home is connected to the hospital. This has been in place her for years.

[woo me with science]

14. K&R nt

[Iliyah]

15. Let the gopers in

and they will pick and choose who lives or dies.

[woo me with science]

17. Of course they will, but in case you hadn't noticed,

this is happening now under a corporate Democrat.


Support OWS.

[lovuian]

16. So the hospitals are going to take the burden

of which the hospitals are going to go bankrupt

No Hospitals NO CARE
No Emergency room

and American healthcare creeps farther and farther into insolvency

the madness if letting the poor die without medical care
means America's healthcare mortality rates will sky rocket

Poor die and Rich live