The Societal Issue of Patient Abuse and Neglect
Will we see a rise in patient abuse and neglect cases as the economy continues to decline? Will government nursing home funding protect the permanently disabled and seniors? Read part I of the two-part series on patient abuse and neglect, then decide.
Statewide hospitals and nursing homes are feeling the pain of the budget cut ax. Cleveland area nursing homes were two weeks in the new year when they were given a “heads up” to expect a 2% slash to Medicaid reimbursements. With a current operating budget of $40 million, the 2% cut equates to nearly $1 million hacked from the cost of personnel who provide direct care to patients. In the same region, Jewish Family Services Association (JFSA), which provides services to people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, depends on federal reimbursement for 70% of its budget. JFSA expects vulnerable population members will inevitably return to institutionalized settings as a result of the current economic crisis.
Eric Spencer, executive director of NAMI-Georgia (National Alliance on Mental Illness – Georgia) paints a solution to the mystery with a broad brush by stating, “The problem, of course, is that legislators historically have been reluctant to spend money on a state service that most of their constituents do not deem a priority”.
Another challenge exists in the lack of support from communities and leaders where the vulnerable population reside. Only one organization exists to speak for patients across the nation. The National Patient Advocate Foundation spent $635,000 lobbying Medicare and Medicaid issues in 2005.
Passing of the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 amendment requires state nursing home providers and long -term care facilities to conduct nationwide background screening on all applicants as part of the pre-employment process. Unfortunately Congress has minimized the urgency for this type of safeguard for the vulnerable population. Background checks will become mandatory January 1, 2011.
Mystery Solved – or is it?
Clearly there are issues working in tandem that contribute to patient abuse and neglect. From a patient-caregiver perspective, poor quality within patient care systems can be attributed to low employee wages, lack of background checks, and non-compliant facilities. It seems unlikely this problem will decrease without effective nationwide monitoring systems.
On a higher level, legislators do not collectively advocate for the protection and care of patients. Instead, lobbying seems to be geared in favor of industries that can provide quality medication and other healthcare products only for those who can afford to pay or are adequately insured. Those who can afford to pay do not include Medicare and Medicaid recipients.
Finally, federal government turns a blind eye to the urgent need to address the issue of patient abuse and neglect. While the vulnerable population continues to wait for solutions, Congress and executive level cabinet members require them to wait even longer. Meanwhile, profit-turning industries attempt to recoup lobbying dollars with prescription drug and health product sales. Waiting, coupled with an economic depression, will surely magnify the societal issue of patient abuse and neglect.
Fortunately, there are national resources which provide a glimmer of hope for patients. The Patient Advocate Foundation offers information about co – pay relief, African – American outreach, clinical trials, and senior services. Remarkably, the foundation also offers Medicare resources which include information about coverage, resolution disputes and medication assistance programs.
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