Non Funded Patients

[jeannepaul, BSN]

Does your hospice take non funded patients? I have worked for 3 in my 11 years in hospice, 1 non profit and 2 for profit. All 3 took non funded patients, but I am ashamed to say, that one discharged a patient because their insurance ran out.

Do you think it is ethical knowing a patient qualifies and really needs your service, too young for medicare, and their insurance say's no, to basically kick them off? The one's I used to work for would just switch them from funded to non funded and most of the time the patient didn't even realize it.

I never would have thought a company would only "care" until the money ran out.

[tewdles, RN]

sad indeed, it is a business first...and business is about $$

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

The hospice where I live does take care of anyone regardless of the ability to pay. That being said, they do MANY fundraisers throughout the year and receive substantial donations too. I am guessing it depends on the hospice and location.

[tewdles, RN]

Most not for profit hospices that I am aware of depend upon charitable donations to help them provide the care.

[dosamigos76, RN]

I work for a not for profit hospice and we take regardless of payment method. That said-we have to pick and choose, cause there are way too many patients that need you and we couldn't keep the doors open. We do inpatient at our facility for charity patients even.

[DedHedRN]

The hospice I work for takes all patients regardless of their ability to pay. We are rural though, and heavily funded by our community through fundraisers and such. We have a sliding scale that slides all the way down to 0$. We do not turn away anyone that has 6 months or less. I was told that we will even meet people under a bridge for hospice care if we need to. I know we go to lots of places I would never set foot in on my own accord. We live our philosophy. We are also very well loved in our community and have a wonderful reputation. I am glad to be part of my hospice.