healthcare and those on public assistance

1. Help, please! My partners and I are researching the role of nurses in responding to the needs of those individuals on public assistance. There is a lot of broad, general information but nothing specific from any sources. What experiences have you encountered in your careers, or do you have any suggestions for places to find pertinent info?

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2. 

   About jackie38

   Joined: Jan '03; Posts: 2

   14 Comments

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3. 
   Mar 20, '03

   have you talked to social workers?
4. 
   Mar 20, '03

   well, I personally don't look at my patient's insurance status before, during, or after I care for them.
5. 
   Mar 20, '03

   I am not aware of the financial status of the people I care for either. deb
6. 
   Mar 20, '03

   We don't typically take it upon ourselves to know what the patients' payer source is unless lack of it is an issue that affects their discharge planning. Then we can involve social services to initiate Medicaid applications and the like. But for people who are already on public assistance - "in the system," so to speak? I'm not sure what you're asking exactly. Could you clarify?
7. 
   Mar 20, '03

   In the hospital setting I don't look at the fiancial status screen- I have access to it but there is no need for me to know.
   
   In the free and reduced pay clinic I help in, sometimes I have to know so I can help them find special medical equipment , meds or formula.(There are no social workers there). Most of the people that need my assistance with that aren't the people on public assistance but the group that falls in the cracks- they make too much $$ to receive any public assistance but not enough $$ to afford care,medications and formulas.
   
   What exactly is it you need to know?

   Last edit by Mattigan on Mar 20, '03
8. 
   Mar 20, '03

   I don't even remember the last time I had to look up a pts'. financial status. It's just not something that we need to know when a patient is in ICU. Everyone (where I work) gets treated equally and with excellent care!
9. 
   Mar 20, '03

   I do not care one whip a person's financial status or insurance situation. I really prefer NOT to. It's not my job and not my concern as their nurse, really. I leave that concern up to the doc's, anesthesia personnel, billing dept. , and others with a special interest in how they will be paid. I am glad not to be a position where I have to be concerned with this.
10. 
    Dec 15, '03

    While I don't look up the insurance source of my clients, if I hear the family concerned about Medicaid (LTC NH setting), I will suggest that they see an elder law attorney. Often these attorneys can help an individual to protect their resources or in some cases their homes. This seems to be a big aspect of my clients emotional welfare.
11. 
    Dec 15, '03

    That info is pertinant in LTC setting. Check CMS.gov they might have a little information for medicare and medicaid.
12. 
    Dec 15, '03

    Jackie -- Not clear on exactly what's being requested here. You may wanna be a bit more specific as to what it is your seeking help with.
13. 
    Dec 17, '03

    
    It is a little disconcerting when a nurse/ other health care worker
    looks at the payor source before providing care. People are people-- plain and simple. We should not treat the patients any differently than other patients because of payor source. God forbid I ever look at a patients payor source before I treat them. If I ever do, that will be the day I quit nursing.
    
14. 
    Dec 17, '03

    My hunch is that we haven't fully understood the original poster's intent. Suspect Jackie's asking about something else, but I'll wait for her further clarification.

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