Wednesday, May 23, 20078
"My insurance will pay for it"
A woman takes an ambulance to the ER for a pregnancy test. With her Medicaid, she must have thought that health care was free.
Subscribe 
Twitter
Like this article? Receive regular updates delivered free to your inbox.
Your information will never be shared or sold under any circumstances.
Comments
9:37 PM
It amazes me the things these people call an ambulance for. Just last week the little old lady that lives down the hall from me called the ambulance to take her to the ER because her foot was bothering her. she knew it was from her arthritis. Last week one of the males that lives here called an ambulance because he had the flu and didn't want to drive.
But what they really wnat is to be taken right in to the ER and treated rather than spend any time waiting in the waiting room. So it is not just young people who abuse this. I have seen it over and over with older people and they know they are doing it and couldn't care less.
12:41 PM
I wish people who use 911 indiscriminately are billed, even if they're broke.
2:01 PM
how i wish Logan's Run or something like it existed...there are just too many "seniors" abusing the system and setting themselves as example; no wonder the younger generations are all screwed-up
the seniors justify their behaviors for having 'paid-into-the-system...done-my-time' and overly sensitive too feeling judged and defensive all the time !
4:53 PM
In my state, the ambulance doesn't get paid for until the doctor signs the form. I don't do ER work but had some people doing this to come to my office when I started practice. I ignored the "all the other doctors do it argument", stopped signing the paper work, took the heat, and it stopped at my practice.
We played a role in bring this about and play a role in perpetuating it. I wonder if Charity Doc ever talks to his state legilature about modifying the Medicaid program to reduce these abuses? I have and they have been receptive.
6:18 PM
Why didn't he, after performing his medical function and making the entirely appropriate rec to buy a pregnancy test just say:
"Your trip to the ER is inaappropriate. You are abusing the emergency room and the ambulance services and all the people who work hard to provide these things for when you really need them. You should be grateful that they are available when you really need them instead of abusing them. What you are doing is wrong. You are stealing from other people. Come back to my emergency room when you have a medical emergency. Until then, take care of yourself like other people and stop stealing from me."
The simple recognition that my growing sarcasm was a sign of me sense of powerlessness, and that it was an illusion, motivated to take back power and discipline myself to speak plainly to people to when I feel they are abusing me. It has actually worked very well. No situations have escalated out of control, although some people let me know they don't like my attitude. I just let them know that it is more important to me to be clear on what I think about the matter at hand than to have my attitude admired.
6:52 PM
b
8:37 PM
In my state, Medicaid won't pay for anything unless the physician document on paper that it is medically necessary. I just check the nonemergent box so that these abusers will get a bill and I won't get prosecuted for Medicaid fraud if it ever comes to an audit. But these abusers still won't pay, of course, so what the hell does that matter?
9:33 PM
Post a Comment