Investigation Reveals Rampant Fraud by Privatized Hospice Groups

[unhappycamper]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/12/27-4



Siphoning billions of Medicare dollars, for-profit hospice companies found recruiting non-dying patients

Investigation Reveals Rampant Fraud by Privatized Hospice Groups
- Lauren McCauley, staff writer
Published on Friday, December 27, 2013 by Common Dreams

A Washington Post investigation into the world of hospice care published Thursday found that what was initially intended to be a peaceful end-of-life alternative led by religious and community organizations, has now evolved into a $17 billion for-profit industry ripe with scams and abuse.

Hospice care, which focuses on providing comfort to the terminally ill rather than finding a cure, is funded primarily by Medicare—which makes an estimated 85 to 90 percent of all payments to hospices.

Quick to capitalize on this booming industry, since 2000 the number of hospices run by for-profit companies has jumped from 30 percent to nearly 60 percent—with an even larger share of the patients; during the same period, Medicare expenditures on hospice jumped from $2.9 billion to $15.1 billion.

And as the Post investigation reveals, in order to maximize profits, these for-profit hospice groups have begun aggressively recruiting patients who aren't actually dying.

[KansDem]

1. Privatized prisons, privatized schools, privatized hospices...

What's next?

[Live and Learn]

2. Homeless shelters? They already have the unemployed,

Welfare Reform, employment counseling and job search functions for those requesting aid.

I am sure there are still others suffering misfortune that they can go after.

[intaglio]

3. Not sure how long

How long before the first "convenient" deaths start showing up - 6 months, a year or 2 years?

Not that I have anything against private companies ...