Posted on 03/03/2020 1:56:44 PM PST by Theoria
The Trump administration is considering using a national disaster program to pay hospitals and doctors for their care of uninsured people infected with the new coronavirus as concerns rise over costs of treating some of the 27 million Americans without health coverage, a person familiar with the conversations said.
In natural disasters such as hurricanes, hospitals and medical facilities can be reimbursed under a federal program that pays them about 110% of Medicare rates for treating patients such as those evacuated from hard-hit areas.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has been in discussions about using that program to pay providers who treat uninsured patients with coronavirus, the person said.
Dr. Robert Kadlec, who is the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, also said Tuesday at a congressional hearing that discussions are being held about using the National Disaster Medical System reimbursement program.
In 2018, 8.5% of people, or 27.5 million, didn’t have insurance at any point during the year. It was an increase from 2017, when 7.9% of the population, or 25.6 million, were uninsured, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Health care lobby urges Congress to foot the bill for coronavirus quarantines
'The health care industry wants the federal government to pay for mandatory quarantines of patients who may be carrying coronavirus but don’t need hospital care — a potentially high-dollar request for the emergency funding bill now under negotiation in Congress.
A growing number of Americans entered self-isolation over the weekend, including health care workers and other responders who’ve been exposed to the virus. This has only intensified the need for answers to a question hospitals flagged late last week, even as insurers grappled with the potential need to elaborate on their coverage policies.
The core issue is how to handle patients who are undergoing tests, or who’ve been diagnosed with coronavirus but are showing only mild symptoms, if any — yet who risk further spreading the virus to other members of their household if they isolate at home. Hospitals want the government to supply temporary facilities, such as hotel rooms.
One health care lobbyist framed the problem as one of potential bed shortages for the critically ill if the epidemic worsens, and patients who might otherwise go home have to stay in hospitals. In Washington state, where there are 14 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Seattle and King County, the county executive signed an emergency declaration that will allow the purchase of a motel as well as the setting up of modular housing units on publicly owned parking lots and other available land.'
I read somewhere they were charging $1400 for a virus test.
No idea if it is true..
This looks like a pandemic is coming.
Stupid idea. Before you know it, having been established as a patient at the hospital, just wait until additional bills unrelated to coronavirus start showing up for these same people, addressed to Uncle Sam.
A tricky situation
What it comes down to is do you want infected people running around not getting treated because they don’t have the money. Bacteria and viruses are caught by rich and poor alike. Treating everyone with COVID-19 regardless of cost could pay off in the long run.
Then again, this is why the ER is overcrowded and losing money, because of the requirement to treat everyone.
Bill China. It’s their skunk. Let them skin it.
Why? Then these illegals will CLAIM their cough is due to the coronavirus and we end up paying for these clowns. Cant we just simply burn them like in medieval times?
U.S. citizens only - no illegals.
Agreed, every homeless person in californicate will be admitted with flu symptoms.
Yep. Those with passports get a ventilator first.
If they are illegal aliens send the bill to their country or deduct from any aid.
And bill the Communist Chinese for each and every coronavirus-related expense. Tariff the f* out of them until they pay up
How many cases have there been? All this looks like from here is a money making scheme for certain lobbyist groups.
Do you understand the concept of exponential growth?
I suppose.
IMO the Feds must either bail out the effectively bankrupt private insurance companies or let them die and enroll everyone in a Federal single-payer government run system (Medicare for all is a possibility).
The MSM would rather try to paint Trump in a corner about this payment issue than give updates or tips about the disease itself.
“Mr. President, will the govt cover tests for the uninsured?!?!”
If the answer is Yes: “Shouldn’t you have done this a month ago??”
If the answer is No: “Why do you want poor people to die??”
very true
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