Did medical bills lead to Peoria nurse's firing?

[antigop]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-medical-bill-case-jan05,0,7078248.story?page=1

Tony Dewitt was not going to win his battle with prostate cancer. He knew it. His wife, Phillis, knew it. The people at the hospital where she worked knew it.

But still, Phillis was taken aback when her supervisor asked whether Tony planned to seek hospice care.

"He's not ready to give up," Dewitt said she responded.

When her boss raised the subject again a few months later, Dewitt realized executives were monitoring Tony's soaring medical bills. "He still wants to fight," she explained, feeling defensive.


Months later, Proctor Hospital suddenly fired Dewitt over an allegation of insubordination. Dewitt, whose employment record was spotless, has another explanation: "They got rid of me because of his medical expenses."

Now the former nurse manager is locked in a high-profile legal battle with the Peoria hospital, which vigorously disputes her charge. A trial is set for this year after the 7th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago reversed a lower court's decision to dismiss the case.

[annabanana]

1. Yet ANOTHER reason that healthcare must be uncoupled from

employment.

[47of74]

2. Thanks Proctor Hospital for reinforcing my already low opinion of health care management

It was already in the sewer, can't go much lower than that.

[patrice]

3. Only the not-as-yet-born have a Right to Life. It's hospice services for the rest of us. nt

[SmileyRose]

4. I KNOW would lose my job if I had to go on their insurance plan

My husband's insurance covers us both. My husband is VERY expensive, medically speaking. I work for a business with only 15 employees and the owner covers half the insurance premium. Part of the reason they hired me is because I'm cheaper due to no insurance. If I had to buy into my employer's plan it would shoot everyone's premiums so high that my employer would have no choice but to let me go.

We HAVE to get access to medical care away from employment.


Oh and where are the Terri Schaivo screaming RTLer's on this?

[xchrom]

5. peoria -- where i was born and raised -- living up

to my opinion of it.

[Festivito]

6. Why does my employer have rights to my private medical conditions?

First, they should not care.
Second, they should not know.

[Fumesucker]

7. I agree with yooooooouuu

;)

And in fact I do agree, your medical status is no business of your employer.

[Festivito]

12. You mean YOOOOOU agree with me!?

Auch du lieber,.. nicht du?

[Blue Diadem]

10. The hospital is self-insured. Any employer who is self-insured knows the medical costs.

I suspect it's what is going on with my 9 yr old granddaughter. She's recently been dropped by her Dad's employer, a county government. He has an attorney who has been able to negotiate keeping her medical but not her dental which is where her cost is going to be high because of a recent diagnosis of an inherited disorder that only affects her teeth. We're talking 2 months after diagnosis his employer informs him that they won't allow him to include her on his insurance.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. If other children are on the parents dental with the county this is probably illegal.

I wonder if it isn't a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Or, she should be able to go on the policy with a possible exception for pre-existing condition, but these usually expire after a year.(Again, if that is the policy for EVERYONE)

Now, what would have happened if she had been diagnosed with the condition AFTER already being on the policy? Would they have found some way for them to drop her?

This is what I hate about insurance. They only want to give it to you if you pay for it but don't need it. After you need it, it's all about finding ways to deny claims and kill people in order to maintain profitability. Since they are selling services they really don't want to provide unless forced, I can't see why this isn't like a fraud or a bunco scheme.

Meanwhile, check out what the CEOs of the largest insurers make in salaries and bonuses.

[Blue Diadem]

13. Oh, they dropped her. She's been on his policy since birth and there has been

no problem having her on there since her parents' divorce when she was 2, that is until a few weeks ago. From what I understand they are also not including any prescription coverage for her either. He was informed at the renewal period in Dec. for the start of the new policy year beginning Jan. 1st.

[eridani]

8. Eliminate private insurance!

Single payer now! If you haven't voted on change.gov for universal health care, do it now! Also write your congresscritters--even the Repubs.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. She should also sue the insurance company for HIPPA violations

A company might see a gross number for claims on its policy, but they should have no way of knowing which employee or dependent is responsible for how much.

[Javaman]

14. the company will now try and run out the clock until this poor bastard dies. nt

[lonestarnot]

15. The old time management game.

[Yellow Horse]

16. What do you mean? HE'S DEAD. Single-payer healtcare for all -- NOW!

Fuck these hopsitals and insurnance companies and the jackass they rode in on.

:grr:

[Cleita]

17. **

:kick: