BSC 2347 Should there be a financial limit for Medicare?
BSC 2347 Should there be a financial limit for Medicare?
Week 10 discussion
End of Life Care
End of life care and treatment is a sensitive subject to discuss but must be addressed by our health care field and society due to the exorbitant costs it has on the health care system, especially Medicare, which is a public health insurance. According to “The Dartmouth Institute” (2013), Medicare spending per patient, in the last two years of life went from $60,694 in 2007 to $69,947 in 2010. On top of that, it is estimated that one-quarter of all Medicare payments are for end of life care and treatment, which is about $50 billion with the majority of costs being paid out for the last two months of the patients’ care and treatments.
BSC 2347 Should there be a financial limit for Medicare?
There have been ethical calls to limit the amount of payment Medicare will provide to extend a patient’s life for another six to twelve months.
Should there be a financial limit for Medicare in these situations? Why or why not, and if so, what should it be? Should money be diverted from end of life care and treatment for seniors and be used on infant and childhood care? Will an advance health care directive (otherwise known as a living will) resolve this problem? Why or why not?
ORDER NOW FOR AN ORIGINAL NURSING ESSAY ASSIGNMENT ON: BSC 2347 Should there be a financial limit for Medicare?
End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life.
End of life care should help you to live as well as possible until you die and to die with dignity. The people providing your care should ask you about your wishes and preferences, and take these into account as they work with you to plan your care. They should also support your family, carers or other people who are important to you.
You have the right to express your wishes about where you would like to receive care and where you want to die. You can receive end of life care at home, or in care homes, hospices or hospitals, depending on your needs and preference.
BSC 2347 Should there be a financial limit for Medicare?
People who are approaching the end of life are entitled to high-quality care, wherever they’re being cared for. Find out what to expect from end of life care.
Who provides end of life care?
Different health and social care professionals may be involved in your end of life care, depending on your needs. For example, hospital doctors and nurses, your GP, community nurses, hospice staff and counsellors may all be involved, as well as social care staff, chaplains (of all faiths or none), physiotherapists, occupational therapists or complementary therapists.
If you are being cared for at home or in a care home, your GP has overall responsibility for your care. Community nurses usually visit you at home, and family and friends may be closely involved in caring for you too.