Front Street Hospital Case Study Essay Example

Front Street Hospital Case Study Essay According to Kaiser Family Foundation (2013), more than 47 million Americans were uninsured in 2012. These gaps in health insurance undoubtedly increase healthcare costs, discourage the use of preventative care, and negatively impact the lives and health of the American people. One way to combat this issue is for hospitals and providers to offer charity care to those who qualify and are in need. Non-profit hospitals are organized to serve a charitable purpose to meet the needs of the community and serve indigent patients that would otherwise go without care due to lack of insurance. In return, these organizations receive tax exempt status on  all of their earnings. However, some hospitals have fallen short in terms of fulfilling their obligations to the community and the patients in need. The revenue function of healthcare organizations is extremely complex. Part of this issue can be attributed to the different sources of revenue payers: self-pay, Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance, and managed care contract payers. Health economist Gerard Anderson notes that â€Å"uninsured patients and those who pay with their own funds are charged 2. 5 times more for hospital care than those covered by health insurance and more than 3 times the  allowable amount paid by Medicare† (Anderson, 2007). We will write a custom essay sample on Front Street Hospital Case Study specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Front Street Hospital Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Front Street Hospital Case Study specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Front Street Hospital has most certainly contributed to those staggering figures researched by Anderson. For example, Jane Adams, a young uninsured patient spent two days at Front Street for an appendectomy procedure. An insured patient undergoing the same procedure would have been expected to pay close to $2500 after Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to the hospital. Instead, Adams was left with a $19,000 bill for the appendectomy. Like all other uninsured patients, Adams didn’t benefit from discounted rates. To add insult to injury, Front  Assignment 6. 2 Chapman 3 Street is known for its intimidating collection tactics against patients who are unable to finance their care. Similarly there is Lori Duff, an uninsured Ohio resident who was barely able to make ends meet. After seeking treatment and not being able to pay her hospital bill, she was threatened with a 25% wage garnishment and continuously harassed by Mount Carmel Health System. Being a part of the uninsured population I empathize with self-pay and uninsured patients. Many people delay treatment to avoid outrageous bills and the financial burdens associated with them. So, I completely disagree with the billing and collection policies of non-profit hospitals related to the uninsured. The uninsured patients are the ones who need discounted services most. It creates a catch 22 situation when choosing to seek care. Avoiding care will only deteriorate an individual’s health, while seeking care creates financial problems. I don’t believe that hospitals should not try to collect on past due bills; however they should go about it in a different way than Front Street has. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act grants creditors the ability to seek to collect on outstanding debt in a number of ways (FTC,2014). Hospitals are known for providing a substantial amount of uncompensated care and it is their job to reduce these types of liabilities. Therefore, Front Street was not unethical in their efforts to collect debt through communications with the patients. I disagree with how far they have chosen to go to collect on bad debt and believe that there are different methods that could have been used. If I could act as the ultimate authority in this situation I would create a stringent law that requires hospitals to fairly set prices for uninsured patients, monitor compliance, and add  penalties for those who disregard the law. Thankfully the new healthcare reform has addressed Assignment 6. 2 Chapman 4 the issue related to hospitals and their obligation to provide charity care. Under the new rules nonprofit hospitals are required to comply with the following four provisions (Gold, 2012): 1. Prohibited from charging uninsured low-income patients higher rates than the lowest amounts billed to individuals with insurance. 2. Required to have a clearly written financial assistance policy describing who is eligible for free or reduced cost care. The policy must be widely publicized in the community  served by the hospital. 3. Prohibited from enforcing extraordinary collections actions against patients before determining whether the patient qualifies for financial assistance. 4. Required to conduct assessments on the health needs of the community they serve and implement a strategy to meet those needs. One thing that I would focus on due to my experience is closely monitoring how well hospitals implement their financial assistance policies. A few years ago I was denied assistance for an emergency room visit and without being given any explanation as to why. Based on my  understanding of the policy, I qualified for assistance, however, my bill was never reduced and it eventually went to collections. I would also reevaluate the needs of the community and see how the organization can meet those needs. It is important to educate the community on the organization’s obligations to the patients and community, patient responsibilities, and ways to utilize available resources. Many patients don’t know about the financial assistance policies that hospitals have. This creates a huge disconnect between the patient and the hospital or providers treating the patient. Assignment 6. 2 Chapman 5 References  Anderson , G. (2007). Hospitals charge uninsured and â€Å"self-pay† patients more than double what insured patients pay. Retrieved from http://www. jhsph. edu/news/news-releases/2007/anderson-hospital-charges. html Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (n. d. ). Fair Debt Collection Practice Act. Retrieved on August 5, 2014 from http://www. ftc. gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/fair-deb t-collection-practices-act-text Gapenski, L. (2010). Cases in healthcare finance. (4 ed. , pp. 239-241). Health Administration Press. Gold, J. (2012, April). Nonprofit hospitals faulted for stinginess with charity care. Retrieved from http://www. npr. org/blogs/health/2012/04/27/151537743/nonprofit-hospitals-faulted-for-st inginess-with-charity-care Kaiser Family Foundation. (2013, October). The uninsured: A primer key facts about health insurance on the eve of coverage expansions. Retrieved from http://kff. org/uninsured/report/the-uninsured-a-primer-key-facts-about-health-insurance-o. n-the-eve-of-coverage-expansions/ HCM 733 Domonique Chapman Case Study: Front Street Hospital, Week 6 Learning Outcomes: advocate courses of action regarding finance-related ethical issues in health services organizations. Score  Below Expectations 0 – 10 Approaches Expectations 11 Meets Expectations 12 13 1. Evaluation of billing and collection policies of not-for-profit hospitals related to the uninsured Evaluation of billing and collection policies is insufficient1. Evaluation of billing and collection policies is sufficient2. Evaluation of billing and collection policies is comprehensive3. Below Expectations 0 – 10 Approaches Expectations 11 Meets Expectations 12 13 2. Discussion of ethical issues Discussion of ethical issues is insufficient. Discussion of ethical issues is sufficient. Discussion of ethical issues is comprehensive. Below Expectations 0 – 10 Approaches Expectations 11 Meets Expectations 12 13 3. Decision regarding billing and collection policies of not-for-profit hospitals related to the uninsured Decision regarding billing and collection policies is insufficient. Decision regarding billing and collection policies is sufficient. Decision regarding billing and collection policies is comprehensive. Quality of Writing Below Expectations 0 – 8 Approaches Expectations 9 Meets Expectations 10 11 Lacks professional quality; evidence of disorganized thought processes; major grammatical, spelling and/or typographical errors  Average professional quality; evidence of organized thought processes; relatively few grammatical, spelling, and/or typographical errors Excellent professional quality; evidence of highly organized thought processes; no grammatical, spelling , or typographical, errors Total possible points: 50 Comments 1 The discussion is insufficient in that it lacks specific detail and/or does not address the question. 2 The discussion is sufficient in that it contains minimal detail, but lacks additional contextual information. 3 The discussion is comprehensive in that it is substantive and includes additional contextual information.

Halifax Explosion of 1917 - World War I History

Halifax Explosion of 1917 - World War I History Updated: 07/13/2014 About the Halifax Explosion The Halifax Explosion occurred when a Belgian relief vessel and a French munitions carrier collided in Halifax Harbour during World War I. Crowds gathered around to watch the fire from the initial collision. The munitions ship drifted towards the pier and after twenty minutes blew sky high. More fires started and spread, and a tsunami wave was created. Thousands were killed and injured and much of Halifax was destroyed. To add to the disaster, a snowstorm started the next day, and lasted for nearly a week. Date December 6, 1917 Location Halifax, Nova Scotia Cause of the Explosion Human error Background to the Halifax Explosion In 1917, Halifax, Nova Scotia was the main base of the new Canadian Navy and housed the most important army garrison in Canada. The port was a major hub of wartime activity and Halifax Harbour was crowded with warships, troop transports and supply ships. Casualties more than 1900 people killed9000 injured1600 buildings destroyed12,000 houses damaged6000 homeless; 25,000 people with inadequate housing Summary of the Explosion The Belgian relief vessel Imo was leaving Halifax Harbour on its way to New York and the French munitions ship Mont Blanc was on its way to wait for a convoy when the two ships collided at 8:45 am.The munitions ship was carrying picric acid, gun cotton and TNT. Her top deck carried benzol which spilled and burned.For 20 minutes crowds collected around Halifax Harbour to watch the billowing smoke filled with sparks and fire as the Mont Blanc drifted towards Pier 6. While crews from nearby ships raced to put out the blaze, the captain and crew of the Mont Blanc rowed in lifeboats for the Dartmouth shore. When the crew landed they tried to warn people to run.The Mont Blanc rammed Pier 6, setting its wood pilings on fire.The Mont Blanc exploded, flattening everything within 800 metres (2600 feet), and causing damage for 1.6 km (1 mile). The explosion was said to have been heard as far away as Prince Edward Island.Fires spread quickly after the explosion.Water around the ship vaporized, a huge tsunami wave flooded the streets of Halifax and Dartmouth and swept many people back into the harbour where they drowned. The next day, one of the worst blizzards ever recorded in Halifax began, and lasted for six days.Relief came immediately from the troops in the area. Assistance also poured in from the Maritimes, central Canada and the northeastern United States in the form of medical supplies and workers, food, clothing, building supplies and labourers, and money. Emergency teams from Massachusetts arrived, and many stayed for months. To this day, the people of Nova Scotia remember the help they received, and every year the province of Nova Scotia sends a giant Christmas tree to Boston in thanks.

Sex and Gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sex and Gender - Essay Example les of bias will likely always occur in one form or another, but the suggestion that there has somehow been a concerted, secretive international conspiracy by evil corporations directed against women is ridiculous. This paper debunks the glass ceiling myth by examining the arguments by those who would defend its existence and by injecting context and perspective into the discussion. Prior to delving into the multiple facets of the supposed wage gap between men and women in the workplace, one indisputable aspect should be addressed. This nation operates on a capitalistic system. Companies large and small, in every industry and service, have one main goal which is to make a profit, the bigger the better. Therefore, it is an economic reality that if a company could hire women who would accept 25 percent less compensation than a man to perform the same job, as is popularly claimed, they would hire only women. Since this phenomenon hasn’t occurred either locally or nationally, it can be safely assumed that there is no gender-based disparity in wages, no unspoken conspiracy to discriminate against women, no glass ceiling. A recent study which surveyed nearly 900 companies of various sizes found that about half reported that it was at least somewhat likely its next CEO would be of the female gender. This would not have been the case 30 years ago when women, driven by economic necessity, began to enter the workforce in larger numbers. Business analysts have estimated that â€Å"it takes the average man 20 years to become general manager, 25 years to become president, and 30 years to become CEO assuming he has the personal and professional qualities to make it in the first place† (Larson, 2005). Thirty years after women on the whole became more career oriented, they are today as likely as men to assume the head position of businesses, right on schedule. It is only reasonable to expect that there was a gender discrepancy among the top jobs in the beginning years