Hospice Cares More and Costs Less

On December 14, 2012 the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced the elimination of the Medicaid Hospice Care Benefit through June 30, 2014. The cuts go into effect February 1, 2013.

Jordan's Crossing Hospice has joined forces with the Alliance for the Advancement of End-of-Life Care and other Hospice Providers to launch a statewide campaign against this legislation.

Governor Bobby Jindal claims that by eliminating Medicaid payments for hospice care he will save the state money. This is false! Numerous studies have been conducted in other states that were considering this, which found it would cost them more. They chose to continue to provide funding for hospice care. Arizona tried eliminating their hospice coverage and costs went up nearly 5% in just one year, so the state reinstated hospice care benefits.

In the game of numbers it is easy to see that Hospice Care, while not only being the most efficient method of care, is the most cost effective way to help those in need of end-of-life care.

Louisiana's Medicaid program reimburses hospice providers at a rate of $137 per day. This pays for:

• Home visits from the Hospice Medical Director, Nurses, CNAs, Social Workers and Chaplains
  
• Medications needed for symptom control and pain management
• Medical equipment necessary for the patient's comfort and safety
• Medical supplies
• Education and assistance with Medical Documents
• Spiritual and Bereavement support for the entire family

Without hospice services, terminally ill patients will, in a medical crisis, seek treatment in hospital emergency rooms. Data released by MEPS (Medical Expenditure Panel Survey) concluded that the average/mean cost of an Emergency Room visit in 2009 was $1318 (meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_stats/tables_compendia_hh_interactive.jsp) One visit to the E.R. at this cost is equal to approximately 9 days of hospice care. In addition, charges for a hospitalization soared from an average $17,390 in 2000 to $33,079 in 2010. (www.facethefactsusa.org/facts/hospital-costs-nearly-double-in-decade/ ). One hospital stay at a cost of $33,079 is equal to over 8 months of hospice care. And to think that these numbers do not include the medications or medical supplies that terminally ill patients need!

 

We are calling upon the public, family members of terminally ill patients, hospice and healthcare professionals, policy-makers and legislators to join us to save this compassionate care.


 

Awareness Meeting
January 16, 2013
Part 1 (52 min) Part 2 (17 min)

A Message from Becki Prudhome, Owner of Jordan's Crossing Hospice

WE, THE FAMILY OF JORDAN'S CROSSING HOSPICE, HAVE AGREED TOGETHER TO FIGHT WITH OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA TO OVERTURN GOV BOBBY JINDAL'S DECISION TO CEASE PROVIDING HOSPICE BENEFITS TO MEDICAID RECIPIENTS, EFFECTIVE FEB 1, 2013.
IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THE MEDICAID PATIENTS WE HAVE HELPED ARE:
1)CHILDREN!!!!!
2)PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN!!!! who lost jobs & benefits after the diagnosis of a terminal illness, and secured Medicaid to cover medical expenses
3)Those who are too young for Medicare, yet too sick to continue to work and can find no other coverage but Medicaid to help cover expenses. ALL of these individuals did not want to leave HUGE medical bills behind, to burden their families....
WHERE will these individuals go now, if Gov Bobby Jindal's decision is not overturned?
We SHUTTER at the thought!!! Please join us here with your stories, tell us here, how Hospice changed your life, the lives of your family members, the lives of your friends. We want to hear what you have to say about Hospice Services!!! TALK TO US!!! ♥