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I cannot speak for those that ran this business and that owned this business but I can speak for those that cared for my Grandmother. There were 2 in particular that were wonderful! These gals are still part of our family today even though my Grandmother has been gone fore 2 years. I know that one of the girls has gone to a new job and we see her because it is where little man of mine goes to the Doctor. As for the other she is still there and I hope that she can get a new job under new leadership and with a hospice that will realize what a gift she really is.
Just a word from hospice workers.... on the most part hospice nurses, chaplains, CNA's and Social Workers are in the business because they care. The work with hospice patients and their families are sincere, loving and yes... so very helpful. This is a generalized statement that covers most all hospice workers.

Many families continue to be thankful and appreciative of the workers.

Now it can be a different story when it comes to the owners. They are in buisness to make money. Making money is not a bad thing but it needs to include morals and ethics and rules. It takes a lot of extra time and money on the part of regulators to monitor the owners and make them accountable.

It does make it a hardship on the part of the workers and especially the patients and their families when someone higher up is not being honest and truthful and moral.

The owners, CEO's must be accountable. That does include where that large profit is spent.... homes, trips, porshe, limo....etc

Any comments?????
quote:
Originally posted by Georg55crs:
Just a word from hospice workers.... on the most part hospice nurses, chaplains, CNA's and Social Workers are in the business because they care. The work with hospice patients and their families are sincere, loving and yes... so very helpful. This is a generalized statement that covers most all hospice workers.

Many families continue to be thankful and appreciative of the workers.

Now it can be a different story when it comes to the owners. They are in buisness to make money. Making money is not a bad thing but it needs to include morals and ethics and rules. It takes a lot of extra time and money on the part of regulators to monitor the owners and make them accountable.

It does make it a hardship on the part of the workers and especially the patients and their families when someone higher up is not being honest and truthful and moral.

The owners, CEO's must be accountable. That does include where that large profit is spent.... homes, trips, porshe, limo....etc

Any comments?????




I AGREE 100%. The ones in the field, are very caring and loving. The majority of the ones in management ( that I have come across anyway ) appear to only be in it for the money. Hospice as well as Home Health Agencies. (IMO)
Don't blame the Nurses, Social Workers, CNA's Home Attendants. The "owners" should be the ones who receive the punishment.
quote:
Originally posted by jmbo35660:
Maybe some of the nurses can answer this. But my question is, if a person is put under hospice care too soon then medicare would overpay the hospice. It seems like this might be what created the problem. I know hospice is supposed to be for the final six months care for an individual.


My sister in law just went to work for a hospice in Decatur. She said if they get better, they're released and can be readmitted.
for profit vs non profit -------- not alot of differences. The lawyers distribute it in different ways. You can put a lot of money back into taking care of patients or you can give out bonuses. Again, comes into play ethics and morals of CEO's.

There is a lot more than what is printed in newspaper.

Oh, and the patient that should have come off of hospice care because they no longer fit the criteria will not be effected in the future. Many times the patient does need help, just not by hospice criteria. Hospice patients are reviewed by MDCR standards 90 days for first two periods then every 60 days until death or 'graduated' from program.
A non-profit hospice is a charity organization and does not have an owner. It is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors made up of people in the community (lawyers, physicians, teachers, nurses, business-men or women, and citizens). They over-see the organization in all aspects, including financial. The owners of a non-profit hospice would be the community. Non-profit hospices/home-health agencies have to be totally transparent to the government. If they should have to close, all monies would then go back to the government and be distributed among other not-for-profit agencies. So there is no incentive for a non-profit to do anything but follow government guidelines.

Being a manager and owner would not necessarily be the same thing. There are very good,hard-working, ethical and trustworthy people in management, however, owners are thinking only of the bottom line.

If you notice, most staff members are just trying to make a living like everyone else and are not the ones driving expensive cars, or living in mansions.

All hospices are subject to the same rules and regulations mandated by the federal government. Each hospice has access to a worksheet, on the Medicare website, in order to see if they remain under the hospice cap. It is up to the hospice to use it and stay within the guidelines. So the federal government cannot be blamed for any one hopice not utilizing this tool.

All hospices are not the same. Anyone seeking hospice care should know what the hospice providers in their area provides.
I think the whole situation of hospice is tragic. There should have been a CON for hospice in the State of Alabama and there wouldn't be a glut of them. The over abundance of hospices in North Alabama makes it difficult to survive under the best of circumstances. Then, if things don't happen just right with the patient's living as anticipted (6 months), you have a situation where your census doesn't meet the admissions, then, you can't meet the formula for the CAP. Medicare has it structured unfairly where, even though you took good care of patients, you have to pay they money you earned back to Medicare just because your admissions rate didn't meet the set formula. Hospice is set up for failure from the beginning. Well meaning entrepreneurs get caught up in this rediculous business model. Hospice is a terrible business decision. It has to be a calling. Unfortunately, lots of well meaning entrepreneurs will go under because they didn't understand the CAP and the local competition was to great to deal with the CAP effectively. I have read and heard at a recent medical conference that Medicare has been given the mandate to recoup as much money as possible from health providers receiving Medicare benefits. It's easier to go after the small 'mom-n-pop' hospices than the larger nationwide chains who have their own legal teams to fight these cases indefinitely as State and Federal can do. I have heard that Medicare is out to close some hospices......looks like they are doing it.
Why haven't we heard anything about the other owner of Good Samaritan, Dr. Rajesh Boorgu?
He has been right by Gist's side during all of this shady stuff.

I didn't think you could bankrupt out of paying the federal government. (i.e. medicaid, taxes)
Any lawyers on here may have some insight on this.

I wonder if Gist has sold the yacht, the porsches, and the old Slyman house on the river.

My mom works at Keller, she says the money went to both of these guys head. It seems old fashion greed is at work here, not a computer glitch.
RTT,

You hit the nail on the head without meaning to. One of the biggest problems is "entrepreneurs" as you call them, get into the hospice business as just that, "a HOSPICE BUSINESS." Hospice is a Healthcare Model. When people start a hospice because they see it as an avenue for big bucks problems will occur. Greedy people have been making BIG BUCKS off of vulnerable, dying patients. It's high time the government stepped in and stopped the unethical and often illegal practices that have been going on.

Hospice is only a failure when your heart is in the wrong place and you are doing the wrong things. As the old cliche' goes "what goes around comes around." It finally has come around to those that abused the system.

Have you ever thought about how it is a healthcare business that has only been in business a few years can make the kind of money to buy porsches, large lake homes, mansions? They have to be making mucho bucks. If you look at every other healthcare entity in our society, they are and have been struggling for the last few years, (read the headlines). So what once was a lucrative business opportunity is no longer, and should not be.

There are wonderful hospice providers in our area. Those that have been around for a long time, are transparent, and have a good solid reputation in the community will remain. The ones that are using their profits to put in their own pockets will eventually fade away. That's how it should be.

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