These are nursing home patients. That is foul play.
"The whistleblowers contend that large numbers of AseraCare hospice patients are discharged while alive: 48 percent of those cared for by the Monroeville, Ala., branch and 79 percent of patients enrolled in the Mobile, Ala., branch. “It is hardly plausible that such a high percentage of Defendants’ hospice enrollees would be discharged alive unless such patients were nonterminal and fraudulently enrolled from the outset,” the lawsuit charges" (Rau, J. KHN 1/5/12', National hospice company accused of fraud)The company is AseraCare, owned by the national company Golden Living. The FEDs are suing. They were alleging that there were numersous pressures involved for enrollments. People not in need of hospice were being placed into hospice so that AseraCare could increase their profit margins.
No matter how the government words the significant laws, there is simply no temptation for abusing the laws. Companies can't justify their misappropriations of hospice business.
AseraCare claims the 'whistleblowers' are just sharks. There is a False Claims Act that entitles the person turning in the lawbreaker to receive a part of the final sum that the government wins in a lawsuit towards the defendant. Yes, they should get paid. It takes efforts to blow a whistle.
AseraCare drifted below the cap placed by Medicare on hospice collections from patients stays. Even at $22,386 capped in 2008, AseraCare wanted more.
"In a quest for new patients, AseraCare sent employees to "patrol hospitals," ride along with "Meals-on-Wheels" and go "door-to-door"in housing run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development" (attorney Jim Barger, National hospice company accused of fraud)It has to be difficult working for companies with such agendas. Jobs aren't are easily acquired in our economy. Somebody has to be responsible for this legally, personally, religiously, and rightfully, though.
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