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The “Permanent” Patient Problem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Courtenay R. Bruce  and
Mary A. Majumder
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Extract

Patients who enter the health care system for acute care may become “permanent” patients of the hospital when a lack of resources precludes discharge to the next level of post-acute care. The care of these patients contributes to the rising costs of health care and will remain largely unaffected by the Affordable Care Act. For example, some resources may be available for treatment of undocumented persons, but Medicaid enrollment is unavailable for this population. Even where patients have access to Medicaid, it takes up to three months between applying for and actually receiving Medicaid benefits. During that time, patients may be ready for hospital discharge. However, post-acute care facilities have no financial incentive or legal obligation to accept patients with no insurance or only pending Medicaid coverage.

Type
Independent
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 42 , Issue 1 , Spring 2014 , pp. 88 - 92
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2014

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