Medicare as Secondary Payer

[Wheezie]

Medicare is my secondary - I've also had it as my primary before I was working - and it's beyond confusing to me. As of now, they seem to be paying my doctor visit copays and a portion of my inhaled expensive meds, like tobi, colistin, and pulmozyme. The rest of the cost of those meds is covered by my third insurance, the state-funded GHPP. My primary insurance (through employer) won't pay for those meds at all. Medicare also apparently is paying for the rental of my neb compressor. So it seems like whatever my primary won't pick up, medicare and GHPP take care of.

I still have copays on all my 'regular' prescriptions and if my primary will pay for it, the other two won't touch it. This is why I have to pay $45 copay for HTS (so lame). My primary authorized it as a non-formulary drug - if they'd just deny it, I could get it for 0 copay. This is also why I couldn't get Levaquin when prescribed. My primary authorized it as a non-formulary, in the amount of 10 pills (even though the rx was for 28) so Medicare and GHPP wouldn't touch it - I was not about to pay $45 for 10 pills when that wasn't even the Rx the doc wrote. Long story long, by the time I got it all sorted out and ended up with oral Cipro, I was too sick and wound up needing IVs in lockup.

The system is messed up, confusing, and even the people who work it often don't know how to deal with our special, complicated cases (no offense to Leah <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ). But after all my b!tching, at the end of the day, I am so thankful that I have THREE insurances to fight over who will pay for what. Jumping through hoops seems to be the way of life in this country - tis the best skill one picks up in college, IMO

 

[Wheezie]

Medicare is my secondary - I've also had it as my primary before I was working - and it's beyond confusing to me. As of now, they seem to be paying my doctor visit copays and a portion of my inhaled expensive meds, like tobi, colistin, and pulmozyme. The rest of the cost of those meds is covered by my third insurance, the state-funded GHPP. My primary insurance (through employer) won't pay for those meds at all. Medicare also apparently is paying for the rental of my neb compressor. So it seems like whatever my primary won't pick up, medicare and GHPP take care of.

I still have copays on all my 'regular' prescriptions and if my primary will pay for it, the other two won't touch it. This is why I have to pay $45 copay for HTS (so lame). My primary authorized it as a non-formulary drug - if they'd just deny it, I could get it for 0 copay. This is also why I couldn't get Levaquin when prescribed. My primary authorized it as a non-formulary, in the amount of 10 pills (even though the rx was for 28) so Medicare and GHPP wouldn't touch it - I was not about to pay $45 for 10 pills when that wasn't even the Rx the doc wrote. Long story long, by the time I got it all sorted out and ended up with oral Cipro, I was too sick and wound up needing IVs in lockup.

The system is messed up, confusing, and even the people who work it often don't know how to deal with our special, complicated cases (no offense to Leah <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ). But after all my b!tching, at the end of the day, I am so thankful that I have THREE insurances to fight over who will pay for what. Jumping through hoops seems to be the way of life in this country - tis the best skill one picks up in college, IMO

 

[Wheezie]

Medicare is my secondary - I've also had it as my primary before I was working - and it's beyond confusing to me. As of now, they seem to be paying my doctor visit copays and a portion of my inhaled expensive meds, like tobi, colistin, and pulmozyme. The rest of the cost of those meds is covered by my third insurance, the state-funded GHPP. My primary insurance (through employer) won't pay for those meds at all. Medicare also apparently is paying for the rental of my neb compressor. So it seems like whatever my primary won't pick up, medicare and GHPP take care of.

I still have copays on all my 'regular' prescriptions and if my primary will pay for it, the other two won't touch it. This is why I have to pay $45 copay for HTS (so lame). My primary authorized it as a non-formulary drug - if they'd just deny it, I could get it for 0 copay. This is also why I couldn't get Levaquin when prescribed. My primary authorized it as a non-formulary, in the amount of 10 pills (even though the rx was for 28) so Medicare and GHPP wouldn't touch it - I was not about to pay $45 for 10 pills when that wasn't even the Rx the doc wrote. Long story long, by the time I got it all sorted out and ended up with oral Cipro, I was too sick and wound up needing IVs in lockup.

The system is messed up, confusing, and even the people who work it often don't know how to deal with our special, complicated cases (no offense to Leah <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ). But after all my b!tching, at the end of the day, I am so thankful that I have THREE insurances to fight over who will pay for what. Jumping through hoops seems to be the way of life in this country - tis the best skill one picks up in college, IMO

 

[Wheezie]

Medicare is my secondary - I've also had it as my primary before I was working - and it's beyond confusing to me. As of now, they seem to be paying my doctor visit copays and a portion of my inhaled expensive meds, like tobi, colistin, and pulmozyme. The rest of the cost of those meds is covered by my third insurance, the state-funded GHPP. My primary insurance (through employer) won't pay for those meds at all. Medicare also apparently is paying for the rental of my neb compressor. So it seems like whatever my primary won't pick up, medicare and GHPP take care of.

I still have copays on all my 'regular' prescriptions and if my primary will pay for it, the other two won't touch it. This is why I have to pay $45 copay for HTS (so lame). My primary authorized it as a non-formulary drug - if they'd just deny it, I could get it for 0 copay. This is also why I couldn't get Levaquin when prescribed. My primary authorized it as a non-formulary, in the amount of 10 pills (even though the rx was for 28) so Medicare and GHPP wouldn't touch it - I was not about to pay $45 for 10 pills when that wasn't even the Rx the doc wrote. Long story long, by the time I got it all sorted out and ended up with oral Cipro, I was too sick and wound up needing IVs in lockup.

The system is messed up, confusing, and even the people who work it often don't know how to deal with our special, complicated cases (no offense to Leah <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ). But after all my b!tching, at the end of the day, I am so thankful that I have THREE insurances to fight over who will pay for what. Jumping through hoops seems to be the way of life in this country - tis the best skill one picks up in college, IMO

 

[Wheezie]

Medicare is my secondary - I've also had it as my primary before I was working - and it's beyond confusing to me. As of now, they seem to be paying my doctor visit copays and a portion of my inhaled expensive meds, like tobi, colistin, and pulmozyme. The rest of the cost of those meds is covered by my third insurance, the state-funded GHPP. My primary insurance (through employer) won't pay for those meds at all. Medicare also apparently is paying for the rental of my neb compressor. So it seems like whatever my primary won't pick up, medicare and GHPP take care of.
<br />
<br />I still have copays on all my 'regular' prescriptions and if my primary will pay for it, the other two won't touch it. This is why I have to pay $45 copay for HTS (so lame). My primary authorized it as a non-formulary drug - if they'd just deny it, I could get it for 0 copay. This is also why I couldn't get Levaquin when prescribed. My primary authorized it as a non-formulary, in the amount of 10 pills (even though the rx was for 28) so Medicare and GHPP wouldn't touch it - I was not about to pay $45 for 10 pills when that wasn't even the Rx the doc wrote. Long story long, by the time I got it all sorted out and ended up with oral Cipro, I was too sick and wound up needing IVs in lockup.
<br />
<br />The system is messed up, confusing, and even the people who work it often don't know how to deal with our special, complicated cases (no offense to Leah <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> ). But after all my b!tching, at the end of the day, I am so thankful that I have THREE insurances to fight over who will pay for what. Jumping through hoops seems to be the way of life in this country - tis the best skill one picks up in college, IMO

 

[Imogene]

These posts should be sent to your congress people representatives and senators.

Now is a good time, because the President is getting ready to veto the law that would suspend the reimbursement rate reduction to clinicians and temporarily suspends the DME bidding concept and many other sections. For those wanting to read the link below:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00169">Senate Roll Call Outcome</a>

Fortunately, as an election year, these reports will carry great sway with anyone up for reelection which includes the entire House of Representatives and approximately 33 Senators.

The only no votes were Republicans in the Senate except the Majority Leader who voted no so he could recall the vote after the July recess (a procedural rules gimmick) that allowed the AMA to significantly pressure enough Republican Senators to change their vote to yes and thus assure an apparent veto proof outcome, even if the president does carry out his veto threat.

What this means is 40 million Americans including retired Military personnel and family members living in areas not adequately accessible to VA health facilities could become disenfranchised from their personal care physicians (PCP's) if the rate cuts for Medicare reimbursement are ever instituted, it will then be cash only care.

Another enlightening opportunity for this election year is to know what Medicare Advantage means. The following link although from the NY Times is a reasonably unbiased thumbnail sketch.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/opinion/05sat2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=medicare+advantage&st=nyt&oref=slogin">Medicare Advantage</a>

I hope these links are enlightening. Please feel free to continue discussing US healthcare in this important election year.

Jeanne

 

[Imogene]

These posts should be sent to your congress people representatives and senators.

Now is a good time, because the President is getting ready to veto the law that would suspend the reimbursement rate reduction to clinicians and temporarily suspends the DME bidding concept and many other sections. For those wanting to read the link below:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00169">Senate Roll Call Outcome</a>

Fortunately, as an election year, these reports will carry great sway with anyone up for reelection which includes the entire House of Representatives and approximately 33 Senators.

The only no votes were Republicans in the Senate except the Majority Leader who voted no so he could recall the vote after the July recess (a procedural rules gimmick) that allowed the AMA to significantly pressure enough Republican Senators to change their vote to yes and thus assure an apparent veto proof outcome, even if the president does carry out his veto threat.

What this means is 40 million Americans including retired Military personnel and family members living in areas not adequately accessible to VA health facilities could become disenfranchised from their personal care physicians (PCP's) if the rate cuts for Medicare reimbursement are ever instituted, it will then be cash only care.

Another enlightening opportunity for this election year is to know what Medicare Advantage means. The following link although from the NY Times is a reasonably unbiased thumbnail sketch.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/opinion/05sat2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=medicare+advantage&st=nyt&oref=slogin">Medicare Advantage</a>

I hope these links are enlightening. Please feel free to continue discussing US healthcare in this important election year.

Jeanne

 

[Imogene]

These posts should be sent to your congress people representatives and senators.

Now is a good time, because the President is getting ready to veto the law that would suspend the reimbursement rate reduction to clinicians and temporarily suspends the DME bidding concept and many other sections. For those wanting to read the link below:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00169">Senate Roll Call Outcome</a>

Fortunately, as an election year, these reports will carry great sway with anyone up for reelection which includes the entire House of Representatives and approximately 33 Senators.

The only no votes were Republicans in the Senate except the Majority Leader who voted no so he could recall the vote after the July recess (a procedural rules gimmick) that allowed the AMA to significantly pressure enough Republican Senators to change their vote to yes and thus assure an apparent veto proof outcome, even if the president does carry out his veto threat.

What this means is 40 million Americans including retired Military personnel and family members living in areas not adequately accessible to VA health facilities could become disenfranchised from their personal care physicians (PCP's) if the rate cuts for Medicare reimbursement are ever instituted, it will then be cash only care.

Another enlightening opportunity for this election year is to know what Medicare Advantage means. The following link although from the NY Times is a reasonably unbiased thumbnail sketch.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/opinion/05sat2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=medicare+advantage&st=nyt&oref=slogin">Medicare Advantage</a>

I hope these links are enlightening. Please feel free to continue discussing US healthcare in this important election year.

Jeanne

 

[Imogene]

These posts should be sent to your congress people representatives and senators.

Now is a good time, because the President is getting ready to veto the law that would suspend the reimbursement rate reduction to clinicians and temporarily suspends the DME bidding concept and many other sections. For those wanting to read the link below:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00169">Senate Roll Call Outcome</a>

Fortunately, as an election year, these reports will carry great sway with anyone up for reelection which includes the entire House of Representatives and approximately 33 Senators.

The only no votes were Republicans in the Senate except the Majority Leader who voted no so he could recall the vote after the July recess (a procedural rules gimmick) that allowed the AMA to significantly pressure enough Republican Senators to change their vote to yes and thus assure an apparent veto proof outcome, even if the president does carry out his veto threat.

What this means is 40 million Americans including retired Military personnel and family members living in areas not adequately accessible to VA health facilities could become disenfranchised from their personal care physicians (PCP's) if the rate cuts for Medicare reimbursement are ever instituted, it will then be cash only care.

Another enlightening opportunity for this election year is to know what Medicare Advantage means. The following link although from the NY Times is a reasonably unbiased thumbnail sketch.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/opinion/05sat2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=medicare+advantage&st=nyt&oref=slogin">Medicare Advantage</a>

I hope these links are enlightening. Please feel free to continue discussing US healthcare in this important election year.

Jeanne

 

[Imogene]

These posts should be sent to your congress people representatives and senators.
<br />
<br />Now is a good time, because the President is getting ready to veto the law that would suspend the reimbursement rate reduction to clinicians and temporarily suspends the DME bidding concept and many other sections. For those wanting to read the link below:
<br />
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00169">Senate Roll Call Outcome</a>
<br />
<br />Fortunately, as an election year, these reports will carry great sway with anyone up for reelection which includes the entire House of Representatives and approximately 33 Senators.
<br />
<br />The only no votes were Republicans in the Senate except the Majority Leader who voted no so he could recall the vote after the July recess (a procedural rules gimmick) that allowed the AMA to significantly pressure enough Republican Senators to change their vote to yes and thus assure an apparent veto proof outcome, even if the president does carry out his veto threat.
<br />
<br />What this means is 40 million Americans including retired Military personnel and family members living in areas not adequately accessible to VA health facilities could become disenfranchised from their personal care physicians (PCP's) if the rate cuts for Medicare reimbursement are ever instituted, it will then be cash only care.
<br />
<br />Another enlightening opportunity for this election year is to know what Medicare Advantage means. The following link although from the NY Times is a reasonably unbiased thumbnail sketch.
<br />
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/opinion/05sat2.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=medicare+advantage&st=nyt&oref=slogin">Medicare Advantage</a>
<br />
<br />I hope these links are enlightening. Please feel free to continue discussing US healthcare in this important election year.
<br />
<br />Jeanne
<br />

 

[JustDucky]

Jeanne....I actually did write them awhile back, probably should do it again since it is an election year. My focus was on IV therapy and how much money was actually lost by not covering IV's at home rather than in an inpatient setting. There was one article (I need to find it) that stated that Medicare would save billions of dollars if they instituted that change alone. Part D coverage may cover IV antibiotics themselves (until you hit that coverage gap...then you are on your own for the expenses. Given the cost of the antibiotics, you would hit this stage quickly) but they do not cover the supplies that go along with IV therapy. That means no central line dressing kits, no IV tubing, no huber needles...nothing associated with IV treatment. Trust me, I tried to do home IV's when I had better med coverage by trying to make arrangements with Apria to by my own supplies separately (Apria wanted to charge $80 a day for IV supplies and their "service") but they wouldn't do that, they wouldn't supply me with just the medicine. Currently, I buy my port supplies..my needles, my central line kits, flushes etc....and just claim them on my taxes. No reimbursement there. Nuts huh?

When I did write to my Senator, I included a hospital bill that Medicare gladly covered...it was $80,000 for a 3 weeks stay. I land in a hospital bed on average 3-4 times a year, all for IV antibiotics. I did research as to how much the same antibiotics that I was on would cost if I were at home along with what the supplies cost. Even at apria's $80 a day charge, the final cost for my treatment would have been a tenth of what Medicare paid for my hospital stay.
Here is an interesting article that depicts Medicare recipients being forced to go inpatient at hospitals or even nursing homes because of this lack of coverage: <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.calnurse.org/media-center/in-the-news/2006/january/page.jsp?itemID=27530072
">http://www.calnurse.org/media-...e.jsp?itemID=27530072
</a>
Messed up isn't it?
Hugs Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[JustDucky]

Jeanne....I actually did write them awhile back, probably should do it again since it is an election year. My focus was on IV therapy and how much money was actually lost by not covering IV's at home rather than in an inpatient setting. There was one article (I need to find it) that stated that Medicare would save billions of dollars if they instituted that change alone. Part D coverage may cover IV antibiotics themselves (until you hit that coverage gap...then you are on your own for the expenses. Given the cost of the antibiotics, you would hit this stage quickly) but they do not cover the supplies that go along with IV therapy. That means no central line dressing kits, no IV tubing, no huber needles...nothing associated with IV treatment. Trust me, I tried to do home IV's when I had better med coverage by trying to make arrangements with Apria to by my own supplies separately (Apria wanted to charge $80 a day for IV supplies and their "service") but they wouldn't do that, they wouldn't supply me with just the medicine. Currently, I buy my port supplies..my needles, my central line kits, flushes etc....and just claim them on my taxes. No reimbursement there. Nuts huh?

When I did write to my Senator, I included a hospital bill that Medicare gladly covered...it was $80,000 for a 3 weeks stay. I land in a hospital bed on average 3-4 times a year, all for IV antibiotics. I did research as to how much the same antibiotics that I was on would cost if I were at home along with what the supplies cost. Even at apria's $80 a day charge, the final cost for my treatment would have been a tenth of what Medicare paid for my hospital stay.
Here is an interesting article that depicts Medicare recipients being forced to go inpatient at hospitals or even nursing homes because of this lack of coverage: <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.calnurse.org/media-center/in-the-news/2006/january/page.jsp?itemID=27530072
">http://www.calnurse.org/media-...e.jsp?itemID=27530072
</a>
Messed up isn't it?
Hugs Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[JustDucky]

Jeanne....I actually did write them awhile back, probably should do it again since it is an election year. My focus was on IV therapy and how much money was actually lost by not covering IV's at home rather than in an inpatient setting. There was one article (I need to find it) that stated that Medicare would save billions of dollars if they instituted that change alone. Part D coverage may cover IV antibiotics themselves (until you hit that coverage gap...then you are on your own for the expenses. Given the cost of the antibiotics, you would hit this stage quickly) but they do not cover the supplies that go along with IV therapy. That means no central line dressing kits, no IV tubing, no huber needles...nothing associated with IV treatment. Trust me, I tried to do home IV's when I had better med coverage by trying to make arrangements with Apria to by my own supplies separately (Apria wanted to charge $80 a day for IV supplies and their "service") but they wouldn't do that, they wouldn't supply me with just the medicine. Currently, I buy my port supplies..my needles, my central line kits, flushes etc....and just claim them on my taxes. No reimbursement there. Nuts huh?

When I did write to my Senator, I included a hospital bill that Medicare gladly covered...it was $80,000 for a 3 weeks stay. I land in a hospital bed on average 3-4 times a year, all for IV antibiotics. I did research as to how much the same antibiotics that I was on would cost if I were at home along with what the supplies cost. Even at apria's $80 a day charge, the final cost for my treatment would have been a tenth of what Medicare paid for my hospital stay.
Here is an interesting article that depicts Medicare recipients being forced to go inpatient at hospitals or even nursing homes because of this lack of coverage: <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.calnurse.org/media-center/in-the-news/2006/january/page.jsp?itemID=27530072
">http://www.calnurse.org/media-...e.jsp?itemID=27530072
</a>
Messed up isn't it?
Hugs Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[JustDucky]

Jeanne....I actually did write them awhile back, probably should do it again since it is an election year. My focus was on IV therapy and how much money was actually lost by not covering IV's at home rather than in an inpatient setting. There was one article (I need to find it) that stated that Medicare would save billions of dollars if they instituted that change alone. Part D coverage may cover IV antibiotics themselves (until you hit that coverage gap...then you are on your own for the expenses. Given the cost of the antibiotics, you would hit this stage quickly) but they do not cover the supplies that go along with IV therapy. That means no central line dressing kits, no IV tubing, no huber needles...nothing associated with IV treatment. Trust me, I tried to do home IV's when I had better med coverage by trying to make arrangements with Apria to by my own supplies separately (Apria wanted to charge $80 a day for IV supplies and their "service") but they wouldn't do that, they wouldn't supply me with just the medicine. Currently, I buy my port supplies..my needles, my central line kits, flushes etc....and just claim them on my taxes. No reimbursement there. Nuts huh?

When I did write to my Senator, I included a hospital bill that Medicare gladly covered...it was $80,000 for a 3 weeks stay. I land in a hospital bed on average 3-4 times a year, all for IV antibiotics. I did research as to how much the same antibiotics that I was on would cost if I were at home along with what the supplies cost. Even at apria's $80 a day charge, the final cost for my treatment would have been a tenth of what Medicare paid for my hospital stay.
Here is an interesting article that depicts Medicare recipients being forced to go inpatient at hospitals or even nursing homes because of this lack of coverage: <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.calnurse.org/media-center/in-the-news/2006/january/page.jsp?itemID=27530072
">http://www.calnurse.org/media-...e.jsp?itemID=27530072
</a>
Messed up isn't it?
Hugs Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[JustDucky]

Jeanne....I actually did write them awhile back, probably should do it again since it is an election year. My focus was on IV therapy and how much money was actually lost by not covering IV's at home rather than in an inpatient setting. There was one article (I need to find it) that stated that Medicare would save billions of dollars if they instituted that change alone. Part D coverage may cover IV antibiotics themselves (until you hit that coverage gap...then you are on your own for the expenses. Given the cost of the antibiotics, you would hit this stage quickly) but they do not cover the supplies that go along with IV therapy. That means no central line dressing kits, no IV tubing, no huber needles...nothing associated with IV treatment. Trust me, I tried to do home IV's when I had better med coverage by trying to make arrangements with Apria to by my own supplies separately (Apria wanted to charge $80 a day for IV supplies and their "service") but they wouldn't do that, they wouldn't supply me with just the medicine. Currently, I buy my port supplies..my needles, my central line kits, flushes etc....and just claim them on my taxes. No reimbursement there. Nuts huh?
<br />
<br />When I did write to my Senator, I included a hospital bill that Medicare gladly covered...it was $80,000 for a 3 weeks stay. I land in a hospital bed on average 3-4 times a year, all for IV antibiotics. I did research as to how much the same antibiotics that I was on would cost if I were at home along with what the supplies cost. Even at apria's $80 a day charge, the final cost for my treatment would have been a tenth of what Medicare paid for my hospital stay.
<br />Here is an interesting article that depicts Medicare recipients being forced to go inpatient at hospitals or even nursing homes because of this lack of coverage: <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.calnurse.org/media-center/in-the-news/2006/january/page.jsp?itemID=27530072
">http://www.calnurse.org/media-...e.jsp?itemID=27530072
</a><br />
<br />Messed up isn't it?
<br />Hugs Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />

 

[Wheezie]

*raises hand*
When Medicare was my primary, after 4 days inpatient, my doc was ready to send me home (on IVs, of course), feeling that it was safer for me to be out of the germy hospital once I was stabilized. Just like Jenn said, Medicare D would pay for the antibiotics, but not the supplies so the hospital staff began making arrangements to send me to a nursing home <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0"> I almost fell out of my bed in shock and began a panicked, frantic series of phone calls to prevent this from happening.

My amazing nurse spent almost an entire day trying to find a solution - eventually she found a home-health company that agreed to 'donate' the supplies, while allowing Medicare to pay for the antibiotics only. I cringe every time I think of what may have happened if not for her, and that generous company.

Sending cystics to nursing homes is the most counter-intuitive thing I've heard of in a long time. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

 

[Wheezie]

*raises hand*
When Medicare was my primary, after 4 days inpatient, my doc was ready to send me home (on IVs, of course), feeling that it was safer for me to be out of the germy hospital once I was stabilized. Just like Jenn said, Medicare D would pay for the antibiotics, but not the supplies so the hospital staff began making arrangements to send me to a nursing home <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0"> I almost fell out of my bed in shock and began a panicked, frantic series of phone calls to prevent this from happening.

My amazing nurse spent almost an entire day trying to find a solution - eventually she found a home-health company that agreed to 'donate' the supplies, while allowing Medicare to pay for the antibiotics only. I cringe every time I think of what may have happened if not for her, and that generous company.

Sending cystics to nursing homes is the most counter-intuitive thing I've heard of in a long time. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

 

[Wheezie]

*raises hand*
When Medicare was my primary, after 4 days inpatient, my doc was ready to send me home (on IVs, of course), feeling that it was safer for me to be out of the germy hospital once I was stabilized. Just like Jenn said, Medicare D would pay for the antibiotics, but not the supplies so the hospital staff began making arrangements to send me to a nursing home <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0"> I almost fell out of my bed in shock and began a panicked, frantic series of phone calls to prevent this from happening.

My amazing nurse spent almost an entire day trying to find a solution - eventually she found a home-health company that agreed to 'donate' the supplies, while allowing Medicare to pay for the antibiotics only. I cringe every time I think of what may have happened if not for her, and that generous company.

Sending cystics to nursing homes is the most counter-intuitive thing I've heard of in a long time. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

 

[Wheezie]

*raises hand*
When Medicare was my primary, after 4 days inpatient, my doc was ready to send me home (on IVs, of course), feeling that it was safer for me to be out of the germy hospital once I was stabilized. Just like Jenn said, Medicare D would pay for the antibiotics, but not the supplies so the hospital staff began making arrangements to send me to a nursing home <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0"> I almost fell out of my bed in shock and began a panicked, frantic series of phone calls to prevent this from happening.

My amazing nurse spent almost an entire day trying to find a solution - eventually she found a home-health company that agreed to 'donate' the supplies, while allowing Medicare to pay for the antibiotics only. I cringe every time I think of what may have happened if not for her, and that generous company.

Sending cystics to nursing homes is the most counter-intuitive thing I've heard of in a long time. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

 

[Wheezie]

*raises hand*
<br />When Medicare was my primary, after 4 days inpatient, my doc was ready to send me home (on IVs, of course), feeling that it was safer for me to be out of the germy hospital once I was stabilized. Just like Jenn said, Medicare D would pay for the antibiotics, but not the supplies so the hospital staff began making arrangements to send me to a nursing home <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0"> I almost fell out of my bed in shock and began a panicked, frantic series of phone calls to prevent this from happening.
<br />
<br />My amazing nurse spent almost an entire day trying to find a solution - eventually she found a home-health company that agreed to 'donate' the supplies, while allowing Medicare to pay for the antibiotics only. I cringe every time I think of what may have happened if not for her, and that generous company.
<br />
<br />Sending cystics to nursing homes is the most counter-intuitive thing I've heard of in a long time. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">