[Riot]

Originally Posted by sham

Anyone who supports this new provision has not thought it through. I just lived and continue to live this new Medicare requirement. My wife 65yo and a Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patient had her aortic valve replaced a couple weeks ago. This Medicare mandate was the subject that several doctors and nurses were talking about. When the government makes mandates (usually with good intentions) there are always unintended consequences. The new mandate could cost more money than it saves because hospitals would rather see you die in the hospital than go home and then be readmitted later.

No, this does not apply to a deteriorating, terminal patient. This does not apply to normal hospitalization times for an aortic valve replacement - it's when hospitals kick patients out early, against common medical practices. This only affects what is currently bounce-backs for a few conditions, that is common for only hospitals that don't "do it right" on treatment in the first place.

Achieving normal hospitalization times (and yes, those are documented and we all know it) for regular procedures is the aim of this - times are not being increased. Hospitals that constantly press for early discharge, before the "usual" hospitalization time, will be affected.

Thus, hospital stays will last longer for serious illnesses, AND the real problem with extended stays is that the longer one is in a hospital, the greater the chance of contracting a serious staff infection or some other illness. The other end of the problem is that hospitals will be reluctant to readmit a previously treated patient even if the patient becomes dangerously ill. This is a serious consequence for CHF patients because numerous hospital stays is the norm for them.

This provision does not affect patients with ongoing serious conditions.

Please - read the few conditions the mandate affects.

Other than that, how are you and your wife enjoying your increased Medicare benefits and drug savings due the law?