Local Home Care Provider Welcomes Court Decision On Insurance

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hospital-safe-1-74

The court ruling Thursday that reinstates the reimbursement for home care services to some vehicle crash victims with catastrophic injuries is called a victory by home healthcare providers. Sarah Rhein is a nurse care manager with Private Duty Home Healthcare in St. Joseph and tells us when the state’s 2019 auto insurance law went into effect, patients who get at-home care had their reimbursements from auto insurance slashed, leaving them in trouble.

“Some of them have had to look at mortgaging their houses, selling assets, or in some cases, going without care,” Rhein said. “There was one that had to beg Medicaid for help, which ultimately, Medicaid has just offered some amount of assistance.”

Rhein says the patients already paid for the care with their insurance premiums, so why should taxpayers cover their costs. She tells us the recent changes have caused a moral and financial problem for home care providers as they struggle to decide whether to lose money on patients or discharge them.