I’m sorry? The article stated upfront that the woman lived with the author’s brother and sister-in-law at the time of her injury. Where do you get that her family does not want to take care of her?
The article is about the tests and treatment for a spot on her lung, not where she’s living!
First off, you do not need to be admitted to the hospital to have tests on your lungs.
She went to the hospital due to the consequences of a fall- not anything to do with her lungs.
They probably did a routine chest xray, and found the spot.
This article is about her not requiring an acute level of care, and the fact that since she was admitted as observation- Medicare will not cover the cost of a nursing home bed.You have to be inpatient level of care for 2 days before Medicare will pick up nursing home costs.
I am willing to bet her relatives did not want to care for her, and that is why they are appealing the observation decision to Medicare.
Her PCP can easily order tests regarding the lung spot as an outpatient.
This was what we call in the medical field a ‘social admit”. Now, Medicare is no longer going to pay for the costs of social admits.