75 Percent Rule Affects Evansville Patients

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid is regulating the type of patients rehabilitation hospitals can admit. They say 75 percent of the people admitted must meet a certain criteria. This legislation is affecting rehabilitation hospitals in our area. Betty and Jerry Neese take their golden years seriously. But staying active at 80 stopped for a split second for Betty when the November Sixth Tornado left her with two black eyes and other injuries. "I had some fractures around the hip area and some fractures in my shoulder," says Betty. She says she owes her comeback to a month stay at HealthSouth. "I don`t think we would have recovered as quickly without the people from HealthSouth. They were absolutely wonderful people." HealthSouth took in patients from the tornado - but under recent legislation that may have to stop - along with helping other patients. Under the laws patients have to fall under 13 categories for services. The orthopedic treatment is being left out so if you have a hip fracture you can come get help...But for a hip replacement you may have to go somewhere else. "We`re mainly denying care to patients who need acute inpatent rehabilitation," says CEO Barb Butler This doesn`t just hurt patients like Betty - the doctors are feeling it too. "It makes you feel helpless frustrated angry everything," says Doctor Ashok Dhingramd. But at this point there isn`t much he can do - except help who he can... And know patients like Betty are grateful and continue to enjoy their golden years. HealthSouth is just one of many rehabilitation hospitals across the country affected by this legislation. The CEO of HealthSouth says they`re taking this to Congress. They`re proposing a bill to change the regulations to 60 percent of patients rather than 75.