Nursing Homes Dumping Poor Patients

St. Louis American/New America Media, News Feature, Rebecca S. Rivas

 ST. LOUIS—The call comes in about four times a week.

Nursing-home residents call in a panic: First they are sent to a hospital for a medical or mental health condition. Then, when the hospital discharges them, the nursing homes won’t take them back.

It’s called “hospital dumping,” said Marilyn McCormick, regional coordinator for St. Louis Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office, which is funded under the federal Older Americans Act. 

Nursing-home administrators have various reasons for hospital dumping, McCormick said. Perhaps the residents require extreme care or have behavioral issues, such as emotional agitation or abusive outbursts. Professional training is available to help employees handle these situations, but the cost is not covered by the already low Medicaid reimbursement. READ MORE HERE