Hopefully, readers of Covering Health will have some time off over the holidays. Here are two fairly extensive projects that we recommend for reading if you have some spare time.
Nonprofit hospitals sue patients
In an eight-month investigation, reporters Fred Schulte and James Drew of The (Baltimore) Sun found that over the past five years some of Maryland’s 46 nonprofit hospitals have received millions of surplus dollars from the state’s unique payment system “even as they sued tens of thousands of patients over unpaid bills. Many of these suits have been filed against patients in the poorest areas of the state.”
The reporters found that hospitals have won at least $100 million in the past five years in debt collection suits, have added interest rates at twice the rate allowed for other debts and have placed 8,000 liens on patients’ homes. They also found that Maryland doesn’t closely monitor hospitals’ debt collection practices and doesn’t have standards to determine who qualifies for free or reduced-price care.
The investigation has prompted statements from the University of Maryland’s Medical System and Johns Hopkins.
End-of-life care
Lee Hancock of The Dallas Morning News explores palliative care, which combines “traditional medicine with pain relief, spiritual counseling, and practical advice” for patients near the end of their lives and their families.
The Baylor University Medical Center’s palliative care team has cared for 2,000 patients since its creation in 2003. “Hancock and photographer Sonya N. Hebert spent almost a year at Baylor, documenting some of the most difficult and meaningful moments in the life of any nurse, doctor, patient or family member.”
The online presentation includes engaging and emotional video of patients and family members, as well as a nurse and doctor on the palliative team who discuss what they do and the limits of medicine and technology.
Other elements of the package include a timeline illustrating how technology has extended life, questions to help people plan their medical wishes, first-person pieces from Hancock and Hebert and many resources.
