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Background: In 1983, Medicare installed a new "Prospective Payment System" to reimburse hospitals... When someone enters a hospital, their condition is 'slotted' for one of Medicare's Diagnostically Related Groups (DRG's)... For each 'DRG' Medicare reimburses the hospital for a specified number of days, no more and no less... For example, if a patient has XYZ disease and the hospital assigns him to a 'DRG' that will reimburse the hospital for 10 days of care... if the patient stays for 14 days, the hospital receives reimbursement for only 10 days.... Conversely, if the patient stays for 6 days... guess what? The hospital is still reimbursed for the full 10 days! The 'pluses' are supposed to equal out the 'minuses'... but as you can see, there is a great incentive to release patients quicker and... sicker! Who wins? The hospital... Could you imagine if just ONE day was shaved off each patient's hospital stay...for thousands of patients? Who loses? The patients... for they have been cheated that extra day or two of hospital care... and now must recover either in a skilled nursing facility or at home... and often Medicare will not pay for such care! As a result, who pays??? That's right... YOU...the patient! You'll not only pay financially, but, more importantly, it may take longer to recuperate! Long Term Care issues continued... Medicare will NOT help much with LTC costs DRG's cause patients to be released ASAP Recommended benefits and features 10 Reasons to consider a LTC plan now!
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