Can anything be done?

[LdiJ]

Sorry but my ex was in the hospital for 2 days. She had c-section on Monday afternoon and was discharged on Wed morning. Minimum hospital stay is whatever the insurance company says it is.

Well, insurance company combined with state law, and it does vary by state.

 

[bambi66]

Wow, a lot of responses... Thank you

The mother started receiving prenatal care after her stay at the half-way house she went to for help detoxing at 6-7 moths along. She was only at this place for a few days then left on her own against their wishes. Why wouldn't they report her?
The child she no longer has rights to has a different dad.
Mom is on medicaid, not sure how long they allow c-section patients to stay in the hospital.
I don't want to get into any trouble by informing someone if she truly has cleaned herself up. I know addiction is a disease and very difficult to overcome. She has had addiction issues for most of her adult life. Not sure she will stay clean even if she currenly is clean.

 

[acmb05]

Well, insurance company combined with state law, and it does vary by state.

I had no idea there was a state law in any state that set a specific time someone had to stay in the hospital after a specific surgery.

 

[LdiJ]

I had no idea there was a state law in any state that set a specific time someone had to stay in the hospital after a specific surgery.

Its built into insurance law/regulations. Its to ensure that insurance companies do not set maximum stay periods for shorter terms than what is medically sound. Many states have addressed this issue within their insurance law/regulations, particularly in the last 15 years. A patient is not required to stay the maximum time if both the patient and their physician feels that they are ready to leave, but the insurance companies cannot force the physician to kick the patient out too early either.

In my state, for example, when I had my daughter 23 years ago, my insurance company would pay for up to 5 days of hospitalization for a vaginal delivery.

Within 5 years after that the insurance companies had cut it down to a total of 24 hours, including labor time. So physicians were having to make their patients stay home until the very last minute, while they were in labor, and then had to kick them out within 24 hours of arrival.

The legislature stepped in some years later and made new regulations allowing a 48 hour stay after delivery.

So, yes, state law does matter and it does vary quite a bit from state to state. Didn't you realize that states regulated insurance companies?

 

[rbw5147]

Wow, a lot of responses... Thank you

The mother started receiving prenatal care after her stay at the half-way house she went to for help detoxing at 6-7 moths along. She was only at this place for a few days then left on her own against their wishes. Why wouldn't they report her?
The child she no longer has rights to has a different dad.
Mom is on medicaid, not sure how long they allow c-section patients to stay in the hospital.
I don't want to get into any trouble by informing someone if she truly has cleaned herself up. I know addiction is a disease and very difficult to overcome. She has had addiction issues for most of her adult life. Not sure she will stay clean even if she currenly is clean.

Would it not be better to be safe than sorry? You might speak to her physician, explain the situation, and your concerns. Like I said before, urine specimens are collected at every visit. They will already have the urine; they test it; negative- no worries; positive- it is then Mom's responsibility to explain.

All drug addicts don't have the stereotypical appearance of what one assumes an addict would look like. So her doctor may not have any reason to suspect drug use.

Bottom line is that this is about the baby, not Mom. I have empathy for Mom, but my concern is this baby.

 

[mistoffolees]

Would it not be better to be safe than sorry? You might speak to her physician, explain the situation, and your concerns. Like I said before, urine specimens are collected at every visit. They will already have the urine; they test it; negative- no worries; positive- it is then Mom's responsibility to explain.

All drug addicts don't have the stereotypical appearance of what one assumes an addict would look like. So her doctor may not have any reason to suspect drug use.

Bottom line is that this is about the baby, not Mom. I have empathy for Mom, but my concern is this baby.

The problem is that if Mom finds out and tests negative, she could sue for slander.

An anonymous letter to the doctor would probably do the trick with less risk of being sued for slander.

 

[Ohiogal]

I don't think the doctor would have to explain why it was done or who called, blah, blah. (I was a nurse for 16 years) It's becoming more and more common for Obstetricians to do random drug screens. If it's negative, it's likely the patient will never even know the test was even done. If it's positive, I don't think the emphasis is going to be on WHY it was done, it's going to be on the fact that it's positive and that this baby is going to need immediate and out of the ordinary personnel and medical treatment as soon as it's born. If she tests positive, she likely won't see it this way at the time, but she should be eternally grateful (if cares about this child at all-- say what you want, but being a drug addict doesn't mean that she doesn't care about her child. She is sick and needs help.) If she tests positive ahead of time, there will be protocols and procedures set up in advance to help this baby.


A urine sample is collected at every OB visit. (I'm a nurse and I have 5 children). It's not invasive and it's pretty simple to do a dip stick U/A drug analysis. I would love to see this woman raise hell about somebody calling her doctor out of concern for this baby, if she does test positive.

FERGUSON VS CITY OF CHARLESTON -- USSC case.

 

[acmb05]

Its built into insurance law/regulations. Its to ensure that insurance companies do not set maximum stay periods for shorter terms than what is medically sound. Many states have addressed this issue within their insurance law/regulations, particularly in the last 15 years. A patient is not required to stay the maximum time if both the patient and their physician feels that they are ready to leave, but the insurance companies cannot force the physician to kick the patient out too early either.

In my state, for example, when I had my daughter 23 years ago, my insurance company would pay for up to 5 days of hospitalization for a vaginal delivery.

Within 5 years after that the insurance companies had cut it down to a total of 24 hours, including labor time. So physicians were having to make their patients stay home until the very last minute, while they were in labor, and then had to kick them out within 24 hours of arrival.

The legislature stepped in some years later and made new regulations allowing a 48 hour stay after delivery.

So, yes, state law does matter and it does vary quite a bit from state to state. Didn't you realize that states regulated insurance companies?

Not anymore, well at least they won't very soon.

That being said I knew that insurance companies have set maximum days they will allow but with the way they do it anymore they are pushing doctors to release patients as early as possible. Hospitals and doctors are doing it to make the insurance companies happy. They know if the insurance company does not pay for whatever reason they are likely never to see any money from the patient.