For many years, there were doctors who would admit a patient for three days for "tests" so that the kids could get Mom or Dad into a nursing home for a month or two on Medicare's dime.
"Doctor, what can you do to help us? We just can't care for her any more. We've got to get some decompression time!!"
Medicare has (correctly in my opinion) caught onto this and is threatening both doctors and hospitals with fines and penalties if the practice continues.
Medicare is not intended to provide long term nursing care. If the person is indigent, there is Medicaid. If not, they or their families need to pay their own way.
I am also willing to bet that this patient had money, because most nursing homes will not accept patients who have minimal assets, and as a result, do not qualify for Medicaid.A nursing home did accept this patient. The family did not want to spend down her assets for a nursing home bed. They wanted us taxpayers to do that.
This was a ploy to have the taxpayers pay for the nursing home, instead of the patient.
I see it all the time.
This article has nothing to do with death panels- it has to do with the home/living enviroment of a person who does not need hospitalization.