New health care laws and our jobs.

[roreyn02]

Hi everyone, LPN here from the midwest. I just had a meeting at work and heard that because of medicare cuts they may have to cut back on census and thus cut back on employees. They havent mentioned it but I think there also going to run into trouble with the fact that the new laws require any business of 50 or more employees is REQUIRED to provide health insurance to it's employees. My place of work does not provide benefits its a small town for profit facility. We DO have like exactly 50 employees. So yea, im guessing the fact that there gonna be required to provide us insurance is another reason why they might have to cut back. Its kinda scaring me though, im beginning to wonder what might happen. Right now nursing and CNA work is one place where you are always able to find a job. Is that going to change and all the sudden it will be tough to find places to work because facilities will start cutting down on staff and residents? Where will those residents go anyway?

I probably just started a political argument, but im really not interested in the bickering between the right and the left right now. The laws been passed and im just wanting to know what we are stuck with. Id like a more non partisan discussion. Unbiased facts. Not looking for blame games like "the liberals are ruining us" or "the redneck conservatives dont know whats good for them". Looking for intellegent responses id rather not anyone bother talking like they do in congress, fox, or msnbc. From my point of view, both sides have good points, but when one side is correct the other side just refuses to recognize this.

Anyway... tell me what you all think? Whats going to happen to our jobs when it comes to nursing and healthcare?

[tewdles, RN]

"I have done Medicare chart reviews (payments were confirmed, denied, or reduced due to DOCUMENTATION-it's ALL about the documentation"

I highlight this because in Home Care documentation is the thing that the agencies seem not to want to pay for...and where the RN documentation is CRITICAL to payment.

The knee jerk reaction of management will be too cut back on their most expensive "labor" costs (nurses). Nurses have TONS of beautiful evidence to prosecute that plan and are prepared to take a national stand, IMHO.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

"I have done Medicare chart reviews (payments were confirmed, denied, or reduced due to DOCUMENTATION-it's ALL about the documentation"

I highlight this because in Home Care documentation is the thing that the agencies seem not to want to pay for...and where the RN documentation is CRITICAL to payment.

The knee jerk reaction of management will be too cut back on their most expensive "labor" costs (nurses). Nurses have TONS of beautiful evidence to prosecute that plan and are prepared to take a national stand, IMHO.

Agreed, Tewdles...I did not last long in that contract because they were attempting to code at a lower reimbursement rate...It was rediculous! If the documentation was solid, why lowball??? They were not happy with a group of us, attempting to "retrain"...passed the "retraining" session, so I was doing the job correctly...I was doing what was right, but wasn't saving the insurance company money.

Nursing does have BEAUTIFUL evidence indeed. I know I'm ready and will continue to make a stand!