Question for someone who knows US laws regarding medical care
By firemom31
@firemom31 (598)
United States
April 26, 2011 5:37pm CST
This is driving me nuts, I hope someone can point me in the right direction to find more information. I work for a hospital that owns numerous specialty clinics. It is my job to register the patient, obtain and enter insurance information, and take their payments. I have been ordered by my supervisor to tell any uninsured patient who does not bring at least a partial payment that they cannot be seen without money and must reschedule their appointment. Since some of our doctors are surgeons and obstetricians, I believe that this is wrong. I do not believe that I, as a registration clerk, am qualified to decide the nature of the patients condition and how emergent their need is. All of our doctors have said they want to see patients even if they don't have money with them, but my boss tells me to do just the opposite. I am stuck in a very bad place. So far, I have been registering patients even if they don't have money to put down, but I fear I will soon be formally reprimanded for this. I am battling my need for a job against what I know is morally right. I need to find some sort of legal basis for continuing to register uninsured patients, but so far I have only been able to find it as it applies to the emergency room. When we tell a patient not to go to the ER but to come in to the office instead, how can we then refuse care if they have no money? I am so upset about this, I hope someone can point me toward some legal info that might help me state my cause.
1 person likes this
1 response
@acongojada (57)
• United States
27 Apr 11
Firemom,
I hate this situation too!! I see that you know the law about emergency care, and it does apply to hospitals with ERs but, it does not apply to private hospitals that don't receive public funding, or that do not provide emergency care. I would guess that since you mention that the hospital you work for has those specialty clinics, that those clinics would not have to take people without the money. But it sounds to me like you are getting different instructions from different people in charge.
However, even if the doctors would like to treat people without funds, that doesn't make it the hospital's policy. But being told to tell a patient NOT to go to the ER and instead come into your facility makes no sense. They are telling you to do that, and then telling you to turn away people at the same time! Is it your boss telling you to do both of these things? The only thing that I can think of is to go above your boss, even if it is just by reading policies, or actually talking directly to a "higher-up" about what the policies are exactly, and how you have been told different things and would simply like to be informed of the policy. I know that some places also offer a list of free clinics when someone comes in without funds. It all sucks, and I respect you greatly for your morals, and your desire to help people.
@firemom31 (598)
• United States
27 Apr 11
Thank you for your comments. Our facility (including the clinics) encourage patients to stop using the ER as a clinic and call the doctor instead. This is done in an effort to reduce overcrowding caused by non-emergency cases. I understand the basic premise behind this, however, the ER seems to be the only place mandated by law to treat them, hence our ER is tied up with runny noses and pulled muscles. How can we encourage them to use medical services appropriately, then turn them away because they have no money? I am so disheartened by this situation that I think I would rather work anywhere but in health care right now. Our county does have a free clinic but the services are very limited and only open one evening a week. I think it's time to look for another job. I have considered requesting an appointment with the hospital CEO, but I'm afraid that will get me in more hot water in the long run. For now, I'm going to keep trying to be heard...
@acongojada (57)
• United States
27 Apr 11
firemom,
I used to be in a similar situation. Sometimes, having someone on the "inside" who really wants to do what is right, is so important. But only you know if it is the right time to move on, or stay where you are and continue the fight! If you really are considering changing jobs, speaking with the CEO wouldn't hurt, right? You never know, it might even be helpful. Sense it seems like you are being told so much conflicting info, and I can tell that you are a valuable employee, I would hope that the CEO could help, but I know that in our system, it may not be the case. I wish you the best, and I am really thankful for people like you in the medical industry that really do care. I wish there were more people like that that were the CEOs!
I'll keep you in my prayers too, if you don't mind:)
Acongojada
