$9.56...A SMALL PRICE TO PAY

by Maureen

Each day at work I am a part of the care process of many people that can't care for themselves. Not directly, but on the fringe, as support to the clinical staff. I work tirelessly to assure that the clinicians have authorizations from the various insurance companies to make the visits that are so needed by the patients. We are not a profit seeking agency, but we do want to break even so insurance payments are vital to our survival. As the economy falters, it is even more important to provide the best care we can with shrinking resources. So I find that part of the job to be rewarding.

I also work with the clinical staff to get the patients the supplies they need to improve their health status. Mostly it is wound care supplies that I have to order on behalf of the patients. Again, with shrinking resources it is imperative that we order carefully but still provide the items needed to promote healing. We can not provide and endless amount of the supplies, just enough to get them thru until their orders arrive. Most commercial insurance companies will require the patient to make a co-pay. It is going to become more frequent that the patient can not afford that co-pay. What bothers me is that with commercial insurance (not Medicare or Medicaid) the patient makes a premium payment each month for their coverage. Why in the heck do they have to pay for the supplies they need to survive?

Last Monday I ordered wound care supplies for what the nurses described as a lovely man. He is 83 and lives in a very wealthy community. On Tuesday the supply company called me to say they could not ship his order because he had a co-pay of $9.56 and the lovely old gentleman did not have the co-pay. Yes, $9.56. He told the company he would call back when he gets a credit card number to use. I told his nurse and she suggested the company call the gentleman's son, who is also listed as his emergency contact. So they did. On Thursday the nurse arrived at the house to find no supplies. She did the best she could to dress his wound with the supplies she had on hand. Not the dressing the Doctor ordered, but the best she could provide. I called the supply company and they said they called the patient and his son and still no one called back with the co-pay...they still would not ship. I then decided to call the son myself. I got his voice mail and left a message. I told him how imperative it is for his dad to have the proper prescribed wound care in order to heal fully and quickly. I didn't come right out and ask him to pay it, but I tried to impart my Jewish guilt on the son and pleaded with him to "intercede" on his dad's behalf. I left him my number, and the supply company's number to call. Did he call you? He sure as hell hasn't called me back.

Today, Monday, the nurse arrived at his home and there were still NO SUPPLIES. WTF?? The nurse anticipated this and brought supplies from her home to help this man. Supplies paid for out of her pocket. I called the supply company and was determined that if nobody called and paid the co-pay, I was going to do it. Thankfully, I didn't have to as someone called this morning and paid the co-pay. The supplies will arrive tomorrow.

As a child who cared for her mom...as so many of you do, can you imagine not providing ANYTHING that your parent needed to survive? How can a son be so cavalier about his father's health? For crying out loud he had multiple phone calls asking for his help. I know those of you caring for an aging or ill parent would do without to be sure your parent has his / her needs met...without even blinking.

Why didn't this man have $9? Has his son blocked his funds? Did he take away his credit cards...maybe to protect him? If so, then why didn't the son step up to the plate and take care of it at the first call? Is this man being neglected? Do we need to involve Adult Protective Services? So many questions.

I read so many cases that break my heart. I can't imagine actually meeting or seeing these people in person without crying my eyes out. I give so much respect to the people that go into these homes...often the only visits some get...and care for them as if they were their own parents. I complain about their "diva-ness", but they deserve to be recognized for the good they do.

And so do all of you caring for your elderly loved ones.