I truly believe that if she was able to remain happily at home, she would have gladly taken her Aricept and would have for much longer stayed healthy and in good spirits.

 

to BBallfamily and others.

 

My sympathies for your loss. However, I have been dealing with a mother with alzheimers for +- 5 years or so. All of the things you mention except the rapid weight gain are things I think all of us dealing with alzheimers patients have to deal with...and they trend worse although there are good and bad days. My sister and I both love our Mom, but we agreed long ago that there would be no life -sustaining measures because alzheimers is no life.

I truly believe that if she was able to remain happily at home, she would have gladly taken her Aricept and would have for much longer stayed healthy and in good spirits.

 

to BBallfamily and others.

 

My sympathies for your loss. However, I have been dealing with a mother with alzheimers for +- 5 years or so. All of the things you mention except the rapid weight gain are things I think all of us dealing with alzheimers patients have to deal with...and they trend worse although there are good and bad days. My sister and I both love our Mom, but we agreed long ago that there would be no life -sustaining measures because alzheimers is no life.

Heart wrenching decisions that no one is ever prepared to make. I hate it for you.

I agree on the surface, however, it isn't the same as comparing the prices of oil changes. There are hospitals I wouldn't take my worst enemy to. You really can't shop around for the price of an appendectomy, for instance. Surgeon skills, technology, infection rates, etc vary. If I broke my arm, I would much rather go to a hospital known for trauma, than some small community hospital because I know there will be an orthopedic surgeon THERE, not some tired first year resident minding the store.

 

Sometimes (not always), you get what you pay for.

 

That being said, all hospitals have been put on notice that in a few years, one factor in Medicare's reimbursement rates to hospitals will be based on PATIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS. That should help. The hospital I work for has been scrambling to educate all employes on the importance of good customer service. It will be interesting to see how that shakes out.

 

This is the problem. Why can't you? Why can't hospitals publish flat billing rates for overnight stays? Why can't they publish price per unit for medicine? Why can every other industry do this, but when it comes to hospital billing we wait in unnecessary anticipation of how bad we will be violated. Why is it so hard to track doctors ability to perform routine surgeries with limited infection post-op? Right now, we are just accepting that we can't.

I truly believe that if she was able to remain happily at home, she would have gladly taken her Aricept and would have for much longer stayed healthy and in good spirits.

 

to BBallfamily and others.

 

My sympathies for your loss. However, I have been dealing with a mother with alzheimers for +- 5 years or so. All of the things you mention except the rapid weight gain are things I think all of us dealing with alzheimers patients have to deal with...and they trend worse although there are good and bad days. My sister and I both love our Mom, but we agreed long ago that there would be no life -sustaining measures because alzheimers is no life.

 

I feel ya brother. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hang in there the best you can and treasure any inklings of the good days you have with her that you can. You've probably already noticed that somehow they can still brighten up with their memories of long ago. With Mom it was old movies and songs. She might not have been able to remember a few minutes ago, but somehow amazingly she was able to retain her fascination with her favorite stars of youth and remember the words to her favorite tunes.

This is the problem. Why can't you? Why can't hospitals publish flat billing rates for overnight stays? Why can't they publish price per unit for medicine? Why can every other industry do this, but when it comes to hospital billing we wait in unnecessary anticipation of how bad we will be violated. Why is it so hard to track doctors ability to perform routine surgeries with limited infection post-op? Right now, we are just accepting that we can't.

 

I get your point. It should be that way, but I am going to go where the best surgeons go.

 

In truth, you and I could go to the same hospital, have the same surgeon, and identical procedures and still pay different prices. My insurance likely has a different deal reimbursement deal than yours. Is that right? No, but it is all about the negotiation. I had surgery a few years back and got an enormous bill. My insurance company adjusted it and eventually paid about 1/3rd of it. I didn't pay a thing.

 

You know, I am so old, I can remember back when patients sometimes paid cash for good care. Then hospitals and doctors discovered that they could charge whatever they wanted and insurance companies would pay it. Then, of course greed took over, insurance companies fought back, and now everyone is in a mess.

 

I don't see it getting any better, and I sure don't know the answer.

This shows that that those that say the 'system' worked before AHCA are wrong from a consumer viewpoint.

 

The standard talking point from Repubs is that 'market forces' should be allowed to control rates. But there are no market forces when pricing is hidden - deliberately - from the consumer.

 

Hospitals should be required publicly post:

 

a) all their standard HCPCS codes

b) what the average discount given to insurance companies is for each code

c) what the maximum discount givne to insurance companies is for each code

 

Insurance companies should post similiar information for what they have 'negotiated' going the other direction.

 

The whole industry and government functions are a cesspool. What do they say is the best antiseptic for a cesspool? Sunlight?

 

Consumers (pre-ACHA and now) are in no position of decision making.