There's always people who get nasty or greedy. That's for sure. My mom had the same problem with the VA. My grandfather was a wwII vet, so my grandmother was entitled to benefits. She never really needed them until she went to assisted living. My mom had to harass them for more than two years to get those benefits. It was ridiculous! They lost paperwork, changed rules and supervisors. My poor mama was so frustrated.
Without question, the medical and pharmaceutical industries are absolutely horrid about milking as much money as they can. Then Medicaid pays less so private payers have to make up the difference. I was grateful for the care my kids received, but I know for sure that doctors did unnecessary stuff just to pocket extra cash. I also know because I worked in elder care that Medicaid doesn't come close to covering the cost most of the time. When I worked in assisted living, Medicaid paid something like $1100 a month. That meant private pay folks paid $3000-$4000 to make up the difference, and this was just to pay the bills because it was a nonprofit, and the founder was deeply committed to the sacred work of elder care and not trying to scam anyone. She wanted to ensure everyone could have proper care, regardless of their finances.
You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
I have worked with Nursing Homes for many years, and they have special problems, and always fight financial problems.
ANYONE who makes it work well; in that industry has my respect!I made equipment for them for several decades.
It is a hard, unforgiving, business!
:'(I totally agree. It's a brutal business, especially if you have any kind of heart. So many places just can't afford to take Medicaid patients because the reimbursement is so low. I told my parents I'd never put them in a home. I worked with too many awful people in that business. At one place we had people selling and smoking crack at work and stealing patients' pills. The pay is so atrocious, though! It's hard to get good people to work for so little money. I'm not sure where all the money goes, but it isn't to the staff!
A lot of the cash is eaten up complying with regulations. It does NOT leave much, minimum wage "I do NOT care", employees are the norm there. Some of the monitors I made were intended to alert the decent people if someone was not doing their job!
Most are snake pits, and living in a tent would be better, SMH!
>:(True! So much regulation, but people are still regularly treated like garbage. It's maddening. The only industry more regulated than nursing homes? Gambling.
Both are a gamble. The FDA does a lot of harm to our medical system. I have done the regulatory work for a small business, so I KNOW directly what they cause in the way of problems. Those are Evil people for certain, with no regard for the welfare of sick people!
>:(Indeed. They approve anything they're paid to approve. They care not at all if it kills or helps.