Six people and seven organizations filed a class action lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of people suffering from chronic health conditions. Patients with conditions like Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and brutal lung cancers like mesothelioma were not eligible to receive certain Medicare benefits because their conditions were unlikely to improve.
The government offered a settlement that, if approved, would alter the current Medicare policy that determines the amount of care a patient is eligible to receive. Under the current system, contractors that process Medicare claims use an “improvement standard” to calculate that patient’s chances of recovering. They would often deny services like speech therapy and inpatient nurse care for people who were unlikely to make a full recovery. The settlement would allow patients to receive these treatments.
Advocates for patient rights criticized the current policy, saying that “improvement” is relative for different conditions. In some cases, slowing deterioration or maintaining the same quality of health is considered successful.
We hope the federal judge approves the settlement. Even if some patients are not likely to completely recover, they can still receive care and treatment to make their lives as pain-free as possible.
If you know someone suffering from mesothelioma or lung cancer, it is possible that a company’s negligence caused the disease. You can seek justice on your loved one’s behalf. Call us today at 1-888-637-6347 to schedule a free consultation, or visit our site to learn more about mesothelioma.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – mesothelioma attorneys