[Armistead]

When it comes to healthcare, seems for every action, law or regulation, you end up with several unknowns and counter reactions. For instance, this crappy "Observation Status" That started because the govt felt hospitals were not giving people proper care and possibly releasing them too early, so if a hospital releases someone and they're readmitted in 30 days, the hospital has to pay a big fine. The counter to this and regulations allow it was instead of admitting people, they're placed on observation status, often placed in a regular room, but many hospitals now have observation wings. In observation, since you're not admitted, you'll pay a larger chunk of the bill. More than likely you wont see the specialist needed and studies show you'll get lower care and often they miss stuff.....it's actually caused quite a stink, because people are dying.
Simply, the plan was "better" treatment, but passing more cost to the sick person and imposing fines on hospitals. Doctors aren't treating patients, but meeting strict regulations so they don't get fined. It's the same crap as education, teacers spend more time teaching how to pass state and federal test, than teaching.

When my mother-in-law was admitted, it was clear she had a minor stroke, her face was sagged on the left, left side body not working, couldn't talk much. She was given a CT that showed no damage, common for a minor stroke. Typically a neurologist would come and do neuro test and if a minor stroke start clot busting meds...she didn't see one. The next day they said it was a possible bladder infection gone to the brain and put on meds for infection....she got up and walked that day.. The third day she had a major stoke, simply the clot that was there busted. We sent her to a big city hospital with a stroke team and they confirmed she had a minor stroke that finally busted 3 days later. They decided the damage was too much and per her will, family had to let her go. Note, it was medicare auditors 700 miles away deciding what treatment she could get the entire time.

Sadly, we didn't know, but all she had was medicare, had she a supplement or other insurance, she probably would've been admitted instead of being observed...maybe.....Sad, at the hospice center, the hospice nurse asked what happened, when I told her she was placed in observation, she just rolled her eyes and shook her head and said she sees it everyday.

Course, it is a good way to save cost, kill the elderly and others on medicare, fine hospitals and let govt auditors decide your treatment over your Doctors...