[helland bach]

A friend just forwarded this to me. More of us than one may be effected by this


Sent: 1/21/2014 3:48:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Regarding Medicare - very important!

Open both websites to learn about how to protect ourselves if we are hospitalized. TWO WORDS.............."UNDER OBSERVATION"...........Can ruin you financially!


See the NBC video clip and Wall Street Journal article from the links at the bottom of this email.

This is important if you go to a hospital now.
This is in the Medicare book for 2014.
The 2014 Medicare Book, page 32 explains this. It stresses that you or family member should always ask if you are an inpatient or an outpatient EACH DAY during your stay. WOW! Who reads that book cover to cover!! Glad it was brought to our attention about this radical change.
This may be one of the changes to Medicare enacted by OBAMACARE to reduce $600 million in Medicare benefits.
..... Whether you are the Medicare recipient or your older family
relative is, this is something of which you must be aware BEFORE a
trip to the hospital. Saw it last evening on NBC Nightly News and was
shocked. Never heard of this before and you probably have not either.

Please forward this to as many folks as possible. And contact your
Senators and Congressmen/Congresswomen re needed changes to the
regulations.

NBC video:
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/54026469/

Much earlier Wall Street Journal article:
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303376904579135732284488114

 

[willow]

It is only going to get worse under obamacare since the gov has to find ways to save money. I wonder if this will apply to the welfare crowd?

 

[Jim in Illinois]

My mother's second husband got burned by this they had him under observation for ten days and billed by the hour for that time it cost them about $30,000.

 

[fx77]

The observation scam is not an admission. it is a scam to bill for multiple services al a carte, and the patient gets a copay for every charge/test/specialist by whom he is seen...can run into thousands-- a real moneymaker for the hosptials....
But when you are admitted under medicare rules the hospital can only bill one rate for a DRG (diagnostic related group) and the cost is fixed for the disease process diagnosed.

 

[Bushmaster1911]

Careful of words on admittance form.

Be very careful if you or family members are on Medicare or Medicaid what your hospital writes on any admittance forms. It may mean you're on the hook for thousands of dollars for that care long term in the future.

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/54026469/#54026469

 

[Pat84]

I have Medicare, A Medicare supplement and Blue Cross. I also have long term health care for myself and my wife. I get the Medical deduction every year on my income tax.
I am retired. I have all ready faught with hospitals over stupid blunders in billing. I won.

 

[Jojo]

It happened to my dad. Admitted for observation 9-29-12, released 10-13-12. Not ONE dime covered because the hospital never changed his status. I had to hire a lawyer to straighten it out. It was a small town and the lawyer told me 90% of his cases were based around this type of fraud. I argued with the hospital billing office for days but one letter from the law office is all it took for them to see they overplayed their hand and they corrected the error and the billing.
My advice to ANYONE admitted "under observation" if you are not released within 24 hours, you MUST contact the hospital financial office to make SURE the status is changed. Get it in writing!