Who Should Foot the Bill for Obese Patients?
Monday, August 3rd, 2009 | Karen Whittaker | No Comments
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In an effort to provide more “dignity” to obese patients, a county in Topeka Kansas is planning to charge patients more for ambulance services that require the use of specialized bariatric equipment, such as cots, ramps and winches to lift patients who weigh more than 350 pounds.
Typically, ambulatory services would cost a patient $629 plus $11 per mile. Obese patients, however, will be forced to pay $1,172 plus $16 per mile. Many people in the community are saying that charging one group more for a particular service is outright discrimination.
According to the ABC News Medical Unit, there are a number of hospitals, such as the University of Michigan Hospital and St. Louis University Hospital, that are making a number of changes to accommodate the ever growing population of obese patients by adding special beds, toilets, and lifts. There are even obstetric units developed specifically for caring for obese mothers who are typically high risk patients. Many of these hospitals do not actually pass the costs of these additions to their patients.
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