Seattle man, 70, beats coronavirus — then gets $1.1M hospital bill

https://www.foxnews.com/health/seattle-man-70-beats-coronavirus-then-gets-1-1m-hospital-bill-report-says

Coronavirus nearly killed Michael Flor.

After he got out of the hospital following a 62-day stay, the bill he received nearly killed him too.

“I opened it and said, ‘Holy (expletive)!,” the Washington state resident recalled, according to the Seattle Times.

The 181-page bill came with a total charge of $1.1 million, the report said.

Fortunately, because the 70-year-old man is covered by insurance, including Medicare, he will likely have to pay only a small portion of the tab.

In fact, because he suffered from the coronavirus, he might not have to pay anything at all, the Times reported.

Among the charges, according to the newspaper:

$408,912 – for 42 days in an intensive care unit (ICU) room that was special equipped as an isolation chamber because of the contagious nature of the virus.

$100,000 – for treatment as his heart, kidney and lungs all nearly failed during his stay.

$82,215 – for 29 days of ventilator use.

The prices, however, are typically far higher in the U.S. than in other wealthy countries, the Los Angeles Times noted last September.

“I feel guilty about surviving,” Flor told the Seattle paper. “There’s a sense of ‘Why me? Why did I deserve all this?’ Looking at the incredible cost of it all definitely adds to that survivor’s guilt.”

“I feel guilty about surviving. There’s a sense of ‘Why me? Why did I deserve all this?’ Looking at the incredible cost of it all definitely adds to that survivor’s guilt.”

— Michael Flor, coronavirus survivor

Flor said much of the guilt stems from knowing that taxpayers and other insurance customers will contribute to the cost of keeping him alive.

“It was a million bucks to save my life, and of course I’d say that’s money well-spent,” he says. “But I also know I might be the only one saying that.”

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Hip and knee replacements bolster marriages, study finds

https://www.foxnews.com/health/hip-and-knee-replacements-bolster-marriages-study-finds

Orthopedic surgeons are well aware that joint replacement surgeries can reduce patients’ pain and emotional distress, however a recent study explored how hip and knee replacements can improve marriages, too.

“It started with a thank you note,” Dr. Michael Tanzer, lead author and orthopedic surgeon at McGill University Health Center in Montréal, Québec, said in a press release. “My patient’s wife wrote to tell me how delighted she was to have her husband’s quality of life back because of the dramatic effect it had on her own life and their marriage. This one gesture of gratitude made me think about the impact of joint replacement surgery in a way I had taken for granted.”

The study noted how spouses of such patients often assume the role of caregiver. Research has demonstrated how spouses report reduced marital satisfaction, higher rates of depression and a lower quality of life.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. In severe joint damage, hips and knees are most often replaced to relieve pain and improve mobility.

Tanzer said the team conducted a pilot study to evaluate spouses’ perception of patients’ pain and disability before and after total hip or knee replacement.

The study’s sample of 33 couples, who were on average 68 years old, revealed that the spouses rated the patients’ pain levels “significantly” higher, both before and after surgery, as opposed to what the patients reported.

Patients said the most significant effect from surgery was their improved mobility. Other benefits included resuming leisure and sporting activities, an improvement in pain and improvement in social and family lives.

Meanwhile, spouses had different priorities.

Most of them said the largest advantage post-surgery was the ability to carry on with social and leisure activities with their partner. Other benefits included no longer witnessing the patient suffering, a diminished caregiver burden and a sense of independence to resume their normal life, among other advantages.

“As an orthopedic surgeon, it’s important to consider the well-being of your patient’s spouse and know that they too are likely experiencing the burdens of living with a functional disability,” Tanzer said.

“The emotional and social impact as well as the physical challenges can be many and by continuing to research and bring more resources to the clinical setting, we can help both orthopedic surgeons and patients create a better quality of life from diagnosis through to treatment.”

In the study, couples had been married for an average of 36.5 years. To participate in the study, subjects had to have been living with a spouse for at least five years before the surgery. The patients lived with an osteoarthritis diagnosis for an average of seven years, with an average wait time of 8.7 months to receive an operation.

The study was released as part of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ Virtual Education Experience called “Marital Relationship and Quality of Life in Couples Following Joint Replacement Surgery.”

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19 Detroit Healthcare Professionals Indicted for Unlawful Prescribing

https://www.healthcaredefenseblog.com/post/19-detroit-healthcare-professionals-indicted-for-unlawful-prescribing

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan indicted nineteen healthcare professionals today, June 11, 2020. See Indictment Below.

The indictment alleges that between September 2017 and June 2020 the Defendants engaged in a scheme involving the unlawful distribution of opioids. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy was between medical clinics, rehab centers and pharmacies involving nearly two million controlled substances of a value of over $41 million. The Indictment alleges over forty-four independent violations of 21 U.S.C. 841(a) and it also alleges that the nineteen defendants engaged in a conspiracy to violate 21 U.S.C. 846 – controlled substance conspiracy. The indictment was issued by Detroit’s Healthcare Fraud Unit and will be prosecuted by Brandy McMillion and Mitra Jafary-Hariri, two federal prosecutors in that division. The Detroit Healthcare Fraud Unit is very experienced at prosecuting healthcare fraud and opioid trafficking cases.

All defendants are innocent until proven guilty and prior experience with the Detroit Healthcare Fraud unit has revealed that it aggressively charges healthcare practices on the basis of statistics rather than actual patient care. This practice is a new tactic by the DOJ and can lead to charging errors and unnecessary government scrutiny.

In order to convict health professional for unlawful distribution of controlled substances (sometimes referred to as running a pill mill) the Government must prove that the physicians prescribed controlled substances for “other than a legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of professional practice”. This is a very difficult standard to meet. The Government must show that prescriptions were not for pain but rather in order to achieve some other unlawful purpose.

To Learn More About the Standard See Our Resources Page Here

To Learn More About the History of the Controlled Substance Act Click Here

Defense of unlawful distribution charges requires a focused defense that highlights the patient care provided to each individual patient and knowledge of Federal Drug Laws, CDC Guidelines for Prescribing, and the standards of practice for pain management (ASIPP, ASAM, etc.). As this case progresses, there are sure to be a significant number of Michigan pain patients separated from their provider. Often, prosecutors and the DEA fail to consider this fact because they believe that all prescriptions issued in such a practice are unlawful.

To Learn More About Government Prosecution Tricks Click Here

Before agreeing to any plea to unlawful distribution, a physician must consult with an experienced healthcare defense attorney who understands the law, medicine, and applicable standards. If you are a provider facing Government scrutiny read this before considering a plea of guilty.

The case is pending before Judge Bernard Friedman and Magistrate David R. Grand. More updates to follow.

Ronald W. Chapman II@RonChapmanAtty is a healthcare defense attorney and specializes in representing physicians and other health professional in government investigations and indictments related to the practice of medicine. He speaks nationally on the topic and has appeared in national publications. He obtains frequent victories for his clients facing government scrutiny.

In reading the court papers the actual total of oral doses was 1,951,148 and out of the 19 charged – 6 had the legal right to prescribe.   The actual time frame involved is ab 34 months ( Sept 2017 – June 2020).

According to this.. it would appear that no pt records were reviewed, no pts had any in person physical exam.. this is a statistical conclusion of guilty. The charges were determined by a GRAND JURY.. and it is claimed that our GRAND JURY system is so designed that if a prosecutor wanted to get a “ham sandwich” charged… it would be quite possible.  As I understand our GRAND JURY system.. only the prosecutor presents “the facts” to the GRAND JURY from which the final conclusion/charges are reached.

The law suit only mentions the strengths of Oxycodone 30 mg and Oxymorphone 40 mg… the first is available as a IR & ER in that strength and the latter is only available as a ER.

So these 6 prescribers collectively – on average – prescribed 57,387 doses/month over the 34 month period.

Meaning that – on average – each prescriber wrote for 9,654 doses/month

Using dosing averages that would represent best practices and standard of care for chronic pain pts..  each prescriber would have 46 pts/month

Looking at 5 day work week.. each prescriber – on average – would be writing prescriptions for abt 9 pts/day.

The typical prescriber will see upwards of 30 pts in any given day.  So these numbers would suggest that LESS THAN 1/3 of the pt office visit would result in a opiate Rx written.  This doesn’t seem to describe what is typically described as what is a “pill mill”

These conclusions are based on averages and what information that was provided in the lawsuit… which there is a link to the *.pdf on the above link to the original article.

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Pain-Warriors – the movie -to be released May 25th – pre-order now from Amazon

Dear friends ,

We DID it ! Pain Warriors is officially released , and available for viewing worldwide . A big thank you for everyone’s belief in us .

We need your support , at this crucial time of programming Pain Warriors across North America and beyond , while the film is fresh out of the door.

Our reviews on IMDb are up to 17 ! From my direct community outreach efforts , the past 2 weeks .

Good reviews , Lots of them , are what make us noticed and desirable to Media, cable TV and Netflix , etc.

Please , if you, your spouse, family member or friend has viewed our film and you are not in the tail credits , leave a review NOW on the IMDb site link below. Time is of the essence.

We are in our peak selling time to broadcasters.

Thanks so much, Tina Petrova
May the force be with us ! Team Pain Warriors.

Here is the direct link below to the IMDb review page .

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8438478/reviews

www.tinapetrova.com

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those in our legal system seems to be getting some of their “own medicine” … there is data after data that shows that <1% of those prescribed opiates for chronic pain will become addicted. 

How the media and “black lives matters” have turned on ALL POLICE FORCES… and now they are claiming that <1% of cops are “bad apples”, but it seems that few are buying that fact/argument.

Now the marches and protests are entering their third week.

I haven’t heard anything about holding US Marshals, FBI, DEA, and SWAT to a higher standard and reducing the budgets of these parts of our judicial system as being suggested as to what should happen to other police groups.

Perhaps the community of subjective diseases should take notice… particularly of the numbers that have been marching in the streets and how many days – in a row -they have been marching and so far what has been accomplished.. a lot of talk ?  Chicago recently had the most shooting in a single day in over 60 yrs.

And those in the community wonders why having a few dozen people show up for a protest and nothing happens …. and they wonder why ?

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People Rarely Die After Using Opioids Prescribed for Them

https://reason.com/2020/01/23/people-rarely-die-after-using-opioids-prescribed-for-them/

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almost weekly we are hearing more stories of pharmacists using one of 40 excuses that twitter is giving us. pharmacists have a duty and a right to interfere with prescriptive instructions and stop any prescription for cause, AKA not out of their own prejudge and fears. the courts have ruled that pharmacists can not refuse to fill because of moral beliefs. And that needs to include any phone reasons not based on a reason that finding Broadway covers picking out pain medicines to sabotage. This is raw discrimination and depriving somebody of needed prescription drugs is more than cruel.

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