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First, the state health department overpaid doctors. Then, in its effort to recoup the overpaid money, the state deducted too much from physician checks.
And like the previous mistake, Department of Health and Hospital officials blamed a computer glitch.
DHH last week mistakenly deducted $3.4 million too much from checks reimbursing doctors for the care they provided the poor through the government's Medicaid health insurance program.
The error was made as DHH started recovering $11.6 million that was overpaid to Medicaid providers last year.
DHH spokeswoman Lisa Faust tells The Advocate that affected providers should see the money that shouldn't have been withdrawn show up in their bank accounts by Tuesday.
The Louisiana Hospital Association has advised its members to doublecheck for potential errors in future reimbursement checks. Some hospitals have physicians under contract.
Many physicians had agreed to payment plans under which only a portion was deducted out of future reimbursement checks for services provided over time. But when physicians got checks last week, the whole amount had been deducted.
The error caused most providers to receive no payments last week.
Last month, the state Medicaid program had agreed to spread the recouping of $11.6 million in cuts over the remaining 37 weeks of the state's current fiscal year.
The state must recover the money because it was counted on to balance the state budget.
"But due to a programming error in the state's 30-year-old MMIS (computer) system, $3,359,350 was over-collected on the Oct. 5 check-write," said Faust of DHH.
To fix the error, DHH identified the amount over-collected from 852 providers and processed a supplemental check-write to them on Friday, Faust said.
Six of the payments involved paper checks while the rest were by electronic funds transfer, called EFT, she said.
"We confirmed this morning (Monday) with the bank that the EFTs were released," Faust said.
The overpayments had caught thousands of physicians by surprise because they thought the state had already implemented the cuts.
Reducing future payments could present cash-flow problems for many practices, particularly those with heavy Medicaid patient loads, the physicians said.
Medicaid is the government health insurance program that provides care mainly to children, pregnant women, the elderly in nursing homes and the developmentally disabled.I'm a fan of this cache of quotes: https://www.reddit.com/r/gunpolitics/comments/aqplcf/here_is_one_of_the_quotes_i_love_to_use_when/  


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The "It's a right being granted to the uh.... government" crowd pretends that it's extremely difficult to understand the meaning of the 2A. But then rejects any contemporaneous writings *by the same people* and *on the same topic*.  

It's like squinting at a skeleton at the museum, pondering "We'll never know what type of animal that is. It's impossible to determine!" and refusing to read the plaque in front of you with the description, name and statistics. The plaque that half the crowd is walking by and reading.MPC Film has been one of the global leaders in VFX for over 25 years and counting, with industry-leading studios in London, Los Angeles, Bengaluru and Montréal.
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Shutters have been used for centuries in hot countries to banish the midday sun.
Installed properly, a heat pump can cool as well as heat a home.
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How to Tell if a Loved One May Need Alzheimer’s or Dementia Care?
Discerning whether an aging loved one has crossed the line from the normal forgetfulness and missteps of advanced age into the dangerous realm of Alzheimer’s or dementia can be a difficult task, made more-so by the fact that many elders wish to continue independent living past the point that doing so is safe. By understanding the signs that can indicate that your loved one needs care, you’ll be better equipped to make this important judgment, and help your loved one live as long and satisfying a life as possible.
Medical professionals look at six key areas when determining a senior’s degree of dementia, and it’s these areas which one should look at for early signs that care may be necessary.
Personal care. The final traditional indicator for dementia, loved ones showing reduced personal hygiene and care for themselves should be viewed with some amount of alarm. If your loved ones begin eating poorly, bathing infrequently, not bothering with makeup or hair care, etc., make sure to ask them about it.
Remember, many of these warning signs can be caused by other developing conditions common to the elderly. Pain from arthritis and a general lack of physical capability can contribute to much of the same problems, without indicating any loss of mental acuity. Depression and other mental and behavioral symptoms can also manifest similarly, without necessitating dementia care. However, in such cases other forms of outside assistance may be advisable—allowing any of these situations to continue unchecked can only go poorly, but with proper assistance deterioration of the mind, body, and mental well-being can be controlled.
As the Baby Boomer generation continues to reach the age of 65 and older, more seniors than ever before are opting for in-home care. In fact, more than 2.4 million elderly or disabled patients now receive care in the home as a preferred form of treatment. These patients cover the spectrum of medical needs, including recovery from surgery to heart disease to recovery from injuries.
This growth in home care as a preferred form of treatment is due to a number of advantages and benefits. Aside from the psychological boost of being in the comforting environment of one’s home, there are a number of additional pluses for the patients, the caregivers, and the family.
Independence: Many of today’s seniors are anxious to maintain their independence and sense of freedom. Instead of confinement in a nursing or medical facility while relying on others, remaining at home retains that sense of stability and freedom. Moreover, seniors feel they are making their own decisions, and they can continue to make decisions about their home and lifestyle.
Efficiency of care: When care is provided in the home, especially if it involves therapy and/or rehabilitation, the treatment is focused on a realistic, practical situation. The senior is in a familiar environment where movement is safer and well-known. Additionally, home care covers an entire spectrum of care, allowing for the provision of only those services needed. Instead of occupying a bed in a remote full-service facility, care at home can be tapered down or accelerated based on specific needs. From daily medication reminders to meal preparation to full therapy, only those services needed are provided.
Personalized care in a one-on-one environment: In-home care is carefully tailored to each patient’s situation and need. Instead of being one patient vying for attention among dozens, the senior receiving home care has the undivided attention of the home health professional. A care plan is developed and followed to ensure the treatment provided is precisely what is needed. There is the added comfort of receiving regular treatment from the same caregiver instead of a stream of strangers.
Supportive of treatment goals: A great deal of energy and effort is expended when a patient has to get in a vehicle, travel to a medical office or facility, wait for treatment, and then return home. However, when that care is provide in the home, all of that energy is directed to healing and recovery, not simply surviving the trip out and back.
Convenience and peace of mind: In addition to the psychological advantages to the senior, many loved ones and family caregivers find in-home care is far more convenient. Aside from having more control over a schedule, knowing their loved one is in their own home and receiving professional care provides a peace of mind to many. Instead of coordinating trips for care or having to visit in a facility, family members often prefer visiting at the senior’s home and minimizing potential conflicts.
The growth in quality, professional home health services supports this trend to in-home care. Both Medicare and private insurance companies acknowledge the numerous benefits that this choice offers and accommodate the costs in most circumstances. To learn more about AT Home Care’s unique approach to in-home care, contact us today.
Making the arrangements for hospice care can be a daunting task—by definition, it’s a system for making the last days of you or your loved one’s life more comfortable. Keeping the process as simple and stress-free as possible should be a high priority, so below are tips to help you get started.
1. Determine Eligibility and Coverage.
First off, you’ll need to determine the patient’s eligibility for hospice care, and their eligibility for coverage under their insurance or other health program. Eligibility in the U.S. is limited to patients with terminal illnesses resulting in a diagnoses of 6 months or fewer to live—the diagnoses must be physician-certified, so make sure that’