In a world where we expect a lifetime of hard work to be met with dignified and compassionate care, our family’s experience with VITAS Healthcare and their hospice services took an unexpected turn. Billing Medicare a hefty amount, we quickly realized that the promised support fell short. Let’s dive into our journey, raising concerns that led us to believe an investigation into potential abuse and overbilling is warranted.
II. Choosing VITAS Healthcare
With my father grappling with advanced Alzheimer’s at 79, my family sought help, and Hospice care through VITAS Healthcare was recommended. The initial sales pitch painted a rosy picture—comprehensive services, including aides, nurses, doctor visits, and the supply of essential items. Our decision was made, especially given our residence in Hialeah, Florida.
III. Inconsistencies in Service
Little did we know that the services provided in Hialeah (Miami) would drastically differ from those in Palm Beach. The reduction in aide visits, especially as my father became bedridden, marked the beginning of our challenges with VITAS.
IV. Battle for Adequate Hospice Care from Vitas
The subsequent occasions turned into an ongoing struggle with VITAS to secure the care my father rightfully deserved. Wrestling to arrange enough aide visits and ensure timely supply deliveries, we encountered obstacles in maintaining a consistent level of care. Doctor visits became scarce, and coordination appeared to be lacking.
With my father now bedridden, the frequency of aide visits dropped to three days a week, a significant reduction from the initially scheduled seven days a week in Miami with VITAS. The aide primarily handled bathing services, crucial given my elderly mother’s inability to manage it due to my father’s bedridden condition.
In Palm Beach, we only saw my father’s assigned doctor twice within a two-year period.
The constant battle extended to supplies, including diapers and ensure supplements. Numerous calls were made because VITAS failed to provide these essential items, which were initially promised and previously supplied.
V. Billing Concerns and Lawsuit Settlement
Our frustration reached its peak upon learning that VITAS Healthcare had settled a lawsuit for defrauding the government medicare billing prectices. In pursuit of transparency, we requested a detailed breakdown of the monthly Medicare charges, aiming to understand what services were supposed to be covered by those charges. Regrettably, clarity remained elusive, leaving us with lingering doubts about their billing practices, and/or what services we were supposed to expect.
Despite seeing an average monthly charge of $4,800, VITAS healthcare consistently avoided providing specifics about what Hospice services were included in that rate. They never wanted to disclose the details of what services were encompassed for the amount charged.
VI. The Family’s Advocacy
Undeterred, my family became relentless advocates, pushing for the services my father needed. The corporate focus on cost-cutting over care became apparent, raising eyebrows, especially considering the substantial compensation received by Vitas executives. Here you can see the amount on compensation the Vitas healthcare CEO is receiving.
VII. Last Hours and Critical Care
The concluding chapter of this journey was utterly heart-wrenching. Placed under Critical care (continuous care) with morphine during my father’s final moments, our world shattered when VITAS withdrew the night shift nurse. The emotional toll of witnessing my father’s struggle and taking on the responsibility of administering pain relief unexpectedly became an overwhelming and unexpected burden.
When the doctor initially mentioned Critical care (continuous hospice care), we anticipated round-the-clock staffing to monitor my father and administer necessary medication, including morphine, to ensure his comfort as we prepared for his passing. According to the medicare guidelines, a nurse, not a home health aide, is supposed to remain on site for 8 to 24 hours. Vitas supplied a home health care aide most of the time.
However, on the third night, after my father had been unable to eat or hydrate for over three days, VITAS unexpectedly pulled their overnight staff person. This left my father without any care, and my elderly mother and me were left to watch over him and manage his medication. It’s unimaginable — after days of sleep deprivation, anticipating the imminent loss of a loved one, having to stay by their side the entire night, monitoring their condition, and administering medication without the expected support of a nurse.
VIII. Conclusion
Our journey with VITAS Healthcare Hospice revealed a corporation seemingly prioritizing financial gains over genuine care. As the largest hospice provider in the U.S., VITAS’s market share doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of care provided. Before choosing hospice services, consider our story—a stark reminder that not all promises are kept, and actions speak louder than words.