My mother was recently involved in an auto accident and taken to an ICU trauma unit in San Antonio. After 12 days in the ICU, her doctors recommended an LTAC facility. Humana Gold Plus "reviewed" the doctors' recommendation and disagreed with their request. She was moved to another floor to wait until her chest tubes can come out before Humana will let us know what they will pay for.
My mother is in a three-person room with a chest tube, broken hip, open wound, six broken ribs, heart problems and a broken femur. Instead of getting the help that an LTAC would be able to provide, she is stuck waiting, against the doctors' advice, for Humana to see how she progresses. I, her daughter, live 200 miles away and had to return to work after 12 days. (She is stable, just not getting well enough to stand or get the tubes out.) I offered to pay for transportation to Houston, where I live, so that I could be there daily to assist in her recovery and help with decisions. Humana refuses to move her even though the doctors say it would be best for her to get the care an LTAC offers and to be with family. Humana is keeping her there and making all decisions about what care she is receiving based on what they will pay for.
My mother pays a good amount to Humana as a replacement for her Medicare, thinking that she would receive the best of care. Humana has taken away her right to participate in the decisions about her health care. I would encourage anyone with parents who have Humana Gold Plus to examine other options. Even the doctors and hospital staff have told me that their hands are tied and that they hate to see people come in with Humana, because they know they cannot give them the level of care that they need. Medicare is a much better option. Do not let your parents be in the position that my mother is in: helpless and at the mercy of a review panel deciding what is best for her.
0 comments