The Ability to Help Someone

There have been somethings happening lately that have really caused me to take a step back and remember why I started AOM.   When I was younger, I spent the majority of my time with my grandparents.  I remember my grandmother sitting at the kitchen table going through the bills and worrying either how she was going to afford her medications and/or even going without recommended tests.  Being young and naive, I never really made sense or comprehended the struggle. 

When my grandparents passed away, first my grandpa and then a few years later my grandmother, I was right there with them.   Over the years, I've realized that it's people like my grandparents with whom I really want to make a difference.  People on medicare and on a fixed income shouldn't have to struggle in order to maintain a normal quality of life. 

Just today, we were able to get one of our patients a portable oxygen concentrator.  This allows the patient to go fishing, to go camping, etc, without the stress of taking a bunch of tanks.   We made no money on the purchase but the satisfaction of making this guys life just a little better is all worth it. 

Good Ol Medicare

2010 has shown to be a pretty good year so far.  Not so much financially due to continued medicare cuts as well as most other commercial insurance cuts, but staff and the overall business has been really good.  We started the year off with a few new people.  One, KH  is in accounts receivable and is doing an outstanding job.  The other whom I'll refer to as DW is our new customer service/delivery driver.  He has totally impressed me.  He's a very hard worker who pays great attention to detail.  He strives toward the best customer care possible.  I couldn't be more happy than with the team we have now. 

Medicare has been a challenge to deal with.  With the federal government being out of money and trying to rob more from Medicare, they are going through every physician order with a fine tooth comb.  One example happened this week.  Two years ago we provided a medicare patient with a power chair.  This patient is a C4-C5 quadriplegic, meaning he has little or no motor control of any extremeties.  Just last week, Medicare contacted our office requesting more documentation to justify a power chair.  We sent 24 pages of documentation in hopes that it will be enough to justify giving a man who cannot move his arms or legs, a power chair. 

I can understand that Medicare is trying to come down hard on fraud.  It needs to be done, but is it too much to ask to use a little common sense.  It's sort of like the TSA pulling an 80 year old man aside to be searched before boarding a plane.  Cmon, are you kidding me?

It amazes me how irresponsible our government can be.  Take the blinders off and address the real problems.  Don't change our system of health care, but go after the insurance companies and raise our premiums every year yet pay for less and less.