Another Tough Issue Schiavo Case Brings Forth: Who Pays for Care?
By SARAH LUECK
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
March 24, 2005; Page A4
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For at least two years, the hospice caring for Ms. Schiavo has covered most costs, said Deborah Bushnell, an attorney who represents Ms. Schiavo's husband, Michael. Medicaid, the federal-state program for the poor and disabled, covers Ms. Schiavo's prescription medications. Ms. Schiavo, who has severe brain damage, also is eligible for Medicare. The federal program provides health coverage to people who are disabled for more than two years. But The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, the Largo, Fla.-based parent corporation of the facility where Ms. Schiavo resides, made an "internal decision" not to bill the government programs for her care, Ms. Bushnell said.
In part, the hospice was responding to Ms. Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who objected to their daughter being on government assistance, Ms. Bushnell said. The parents said a medical-malpractice settlement of more than $1 million that Mr. Schiavo received should be used for her medical care, not spent on legal fees in the court battle over whether Ms. Schiavo should be kept alive... Under Medicaid, Ms. Schiavo receives painkillers for cramps and medications associated with feeding tubes, Ms. Bushnell said. The monthly cost "probably doesn't exceed a couple hundred dollars," she said. Ms. Schiavo is in Florida Medicaid's "medically needy" program, Ms. Bushnell said. The program, which covers about 35,000 people in the state, is for people with high health costs who don't meet the usual Medicaid income requirements.
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In recent years, as Florida has faced budget problems, the medically needy program has been targeted for cutbacks at various times by lawmakers and Gov. Jeb Bush. In March, Gov. Bush proposed restoring funding to the program. Both Gov. Bush and his brother President Bush have said Medicaid rules allowing people to transfer or hide assets ought to be more restrictive, though they haven't commented publicly on the type of trust Ms. Schiavo has.
If the Schindlers prevail in the court appeal and Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube is replaced, she could stay alive for many years. The hospice, when deciding to pay most of Ms. Schiavo's bills, "thought it was going to be short term," Ms. Bushnell said. If Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube is hooked up again, donated care is unlikely, she said. "She's going to be on the government dole," Ms. Bushnell said.
Write to Sarah Lueck at sarah.lueck@wsj.com
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