printThe consequences of one element of the Affordable Care Act to poor, elderly Americans are too horrid and painfully obvious to be dismissed as “unintended consequences.”
Government planners plan on penalizing hospitals that suffer from a condition these vile technocrats have labeled “EXCESS READMISSIONS.”
If we are to deconstruct this Orwellian “doublespeak,” what does “EXCESS READMISSIONS” mean?
Read how the repulsive (Hispanic) Nurse Diesel (NURSE TERESA) addresses a sweet 84-year-old lady, who has been admitted to hospital with pneumonia, and, given her advanced age, will likely need to be readmitted in the future.
Ms. Kerner, you see, has been flagged from what our enlightened technocrats also call a “frequent flyer list”:
NURSE TERESA: My name’s Teresa. I’m one of the nurse practitioners here. How are you?
FREDDA KERNER: I’m doing well thank you.
NURSE TERESA: I’m here to see you because you came up on a special list.
FREDDA KERNER: A special list of what?
NURSE TERESA: You’re on a special list of patients who are back here. To tell you the truth Medicare is now looking at this very closely.
EMILY SENAY [narration]: THERE’S A NEW PROGRAM HERE AT ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY LIKE MANY OTHER HOSPITALS AROUND THE NATION. IT TARGETS PATIENTS LIKE 84 YEAR OLD FREDDA KERNER – WHO THE HOSPITAL CALLS A FREQUENT FLYER. THAT’S BECAUSE SHE KEEPS COMING BACK.
SHE WAS FIRST HOSPITALIZED IN JANUARY WITH ABDOMINAL PAIN. TEN MONTHS LATER IN NOVEMBER, SHE WAS READMITTED WITH PNEUMONIA.
EMILY SENAY: Did you know that you were getting weaker and having more trouble breathing at home?
FREDDA KERNER: Oh yes yes yes.
EMILY SENAY: Do you want to come to the hospital again?
FREDDA KERNER: No, as nice as they are, I really would rather stay home.
EMILY SENAY [narration]: THE HOSPITAL IS CERTAINLY INTERESTED IN PROVIDING BETTER CARE FOR PATIENTS…BUT THAT’S NOT THE ONLY REASON TO KEEP SOMEONE LIKE
FREDDA KERNER FROM BEING READMITTED. ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IS ALSO TRYING TO AVOID MEDICARE PENALTIES FOR WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CALLS “EXCESS READMISSIONS.”
IT’S A NEW POLICY THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS PAST OCTOBER AS PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT – MEANT TO SAVE THE GOVERNMENT MORE THAN A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS JUST OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
MORE.
Nurse Diesel:
Diversity Diesel:
Watch Frequent Fliers and Healthcare Reform on PBS.