CBA Florida Inc. (fka CBAI)

[dianebRN]

It is illegal to "discriminate" against a patient based on their ability to pay for services. Health care organizations have to develop one standard to treat patients and that is guidlines and reimbursement by Medicare/Medicaid. The insurance companies know a good deal when they see one so set up the same standards. That way everyone is in compliance.

I have seen very few cases of discrimination based on ability to pay over the years. It may happen more frequently in the future based on the major crunch going on in health care but it would never be labeled as such. I have seen many cases of MD reluctance to prescribe therapy based on a family's ability and/or willingness to comply with treatment. If someone has transportation problem or is not reliable in getting prescription filled, that fact may play a role in prescribing treatment. OR if a treatment could cure someone but their immune system is such that they would die in the process, obviously that's not the way to go. Also let's remember that a heart attact is not a heart attack & prostrate cancer comes in many stages and conditions. There are many forms of each disease and often how the disease plays itself out depends on the person's pre-existing health. It is all very complex stuff which makes it impossible for anyone to make a judgement about whether one person received priority care over another person without significant DD by a medical professional. Even then it is debatable as we all know in med mal.

Anyway, hope to see green today!