Holding hospitals accountable for medical mistakes
In an effort to hold hospitals responsible for the burden of medical expenses associated with common mistakes made during the course of treatment, health insurer WellPoint has said that they will no longer pay for certain types of preventable errors. The insurer indicates that the move was devised to spur improvement in hospital care, which can make a difference in peoples lives.
Other health insurers have taken similar steps in recent months to make hospitals absorb the cost of their own mistakes. Aetna has stated that they will not pay for treatment associated with 28 different serious medical errors, which they deemed should never happen. Medicare has also said that bedsore and other preventable injuries will impact the level of reimbursement that the government will pay to a facility.
WellPoint is the largest health insurer in the United States, with 35 million members. They have listed 11 types of hospital mistakes that they will not provide reimbursement for. These mistakes range from infections contracted from a poorly inserted catheter to performing the wrong surgery.
According to WellPoint’s new plan, the burden for costs associated with gross negligence will be lifted from the insurer and returned back to the hospital. While the policy is certainly going to save the insurance company some money, it will hopefully also give hospitals and doctors some added motivation to devote resources toward preventing common medical errors.
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEYS
Hospital mistakes not only lead to unnecessary medical expenses, but they also have a devastating impact on the patient. If a doctor, hospital or medical provider fails to follow the appropriate standard, they should not only be held accountable for the medical expenses at their facility, but for all of the damages they cause.
The medical malpractice attorneys at Saiontz, Kirk & Miles, P.A. represent individuals who have been injured as a result of surgical errors and medical mistakes. If you, a friend or family member have suffered from a preventable mistake, determine what financial compensation may be available by requesting a free consultation and medical malpractice claim evaluation.
