[kiyasmom]

In case the title didn't give it away, this is a vent.

I was doing private duty through an agency even though I have my Medicaid number and can bill Medicaid directly. One of my families got sick of the agency and left them. They asked me to follow them but I couldn't because of contract. They wanted me and one other nurse so badly the grandparents of the client bought out our contract. They paid a pretty penny. Now we get to bill Medicaid independently.

Now, I'm not stupid. I know the agency has to make a profit. But this is outrageous. Medicaid used to pay $25.93 an hour for pediatric cases. We were being paid $20 an hour which meant the agency took $5.93 off the top of every hour. That's a lot of money but I dealt with it. Until I logged on to update my Medicaid contracts file and saw that $25.93 was no longer the rate.

NO!! The rates increased! Medicaid now pays $29.33 for low tech and $33 for high tech! They are making nearly $10 and $13 per hour off of us! When I saw that I wanted to throw up. Let's not even talk about before state was mysteriously called in (by my family ) they were only paying $18. I am so glad the family advocated for us. We were being raped!

[ArwenEvenstar]

Yea, I recently saw some paperwork when a previous case I was on switched to a different agency and the rate for medicaid high tech was listed as $32/hr. I get paid $20/hour (RN). The agencies are making a killer profit!

At my past agency I once asked my boss if I would ever get a raise because I was making the same amount after 2 years. Generally with most jobs you do get raises periodcally - merit based, or atleast general "cost of living" pay rate increases. She said the only way for private duty nurses to get pay rate increases was if medicaid increased their reimbursement amounts. She told me that they had been petitioning medicaid for increased rates.

Is the amount that medicaid pays variable by State or is it a national thing? I really don't know much about this...

I have been doing private duty for over 3 years now and I still make the same pay. (Actually I went down in pay for a short while when I switched to a different agency!)
What other nursing job would you get absolutely no raise for 3 years?!?! Not even a small raise, like 25 or 50 cents?!! C'mon!

I was also a VERY burned out hospital nurse, and even though the low pay for private duty is a bummer....I am content for less pay for less stress. Although a little more pay sure would be nice!!!!!!!!!!!!

Despite frustrations with agencies, I myself would not want to do independent work. I have experienced too many "family dynamics/family coping" issues and I like having the agency as a liaison or go between. The one family I worked for could be very NEEDY - and I mean VERY! At the time I had a very supportive supervisor and I knew she would support me and take my side when issues arose. I could not imagine being on my own without an agency...Although I know nurses do it!

[HIPPIECHIKRN]

Besides the $20/hr pay rate, at least here with the agency I work with, there are no benefits. No health or dental. I will only be doing this for a short time, though. Yes there is a lot less stress, but I still have to pay my bills.

[ArwenEvenstar]

"Besides the $20/hr pay rate, at least here with the agency I work with, there are no benefits. No health or dental. I will only be doing this for a short time, though. Yes there is a lot less stress, but I still have to pay my bills."

Yea, zero benefits for me as well!! I am thankful to be in a situation where I don't "need" benefits like health insurance - have it through my husband's job.

Although I love the low stress of PD, with low pay and no benefits I am not willing to "put up" with crap from the agency. Please treat me with respect, and like the professional, conscientous, and dependable employee that I am. I don't think that is too much for me to ask! I'm tired of being treated like I am a irresponsible deadbeat by the staff at my agency. Save the deadbeat treatment for employees that deserve it...

[alaskabound]

how can i find out how much Medicaid pays in Michigan and whether or not we are getting screwed over too?

[alaskabound]

Originally Posted by ArwenEvenstar

"Besides the $20/hr pay rate, at least here with the agency I work with, there are no benefits. No health or dental. I will only be doing this for a short time, though. Yes there is a lot less stress, but I still have to pay my bills."

Yea, zero benefits for me as well!! I am thankful to be in a situation where I don't "need" benefits like health insurance - have it through my husband's job.

Although I love the low stress of PD, with low pay and no benefits I am not willing to "put up" with crap from the agency. Please treat me with respect, and like the professional, conscientous, and dependable employee that I am. I don't think that is too much for me to ask! I'm tired of being treated like I am a irresponsible deadbeat by the staff at my agency. Save the deadbeat treatment for employees that deserve it...

i feel the exact same way. i am treated poorly by my private agency. there is a lot of lying going on about the way people are paid. question: if a client is approved for ten hours a day and the client was hospitalized for 3 days that month, do they get to use those extra hours for nurses to come in extra? i know they dont "roll over" to the next month, but what happens to the hours? they are medicaid by the way....