STAT Op-Ed by Joanne M. Chiedi: Fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare hospice program is 'repellent'
By Joanne M. Chiedi, Principal Deputy Inspector General
August 28, 2018
Like many Americans, I have a story about hospice care for a loved one. When my father was dying from complications of dementia and diabetes, hospice caregivers sat with him, provided pain relief, and helped him be comfortable. They also gave my mother peace of mind that her beloved husband was receiving kind attention in his final weeks. To this day, she refers to those hospice workers as angels.
Sadly, not every family's story is a positive one.
Some patients experience days of pain or severe anxiety because their hospices fail to provide pain management and other needed services. Some are signed up for hospice without their knowledge, including some individuals who are not terminally ill.
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