Medicaid Rule Change Gives Parents of Terminally Ill Children Another Option
By:
Updated: December 11, 2012
Before the sweeping federal healthcare reform, parents of terminally ill children on Medicaid had two choices in Arkansas--seeking treatment to extend their life or seek palliative care at hospice.
Starting January 2013, those parents will be able to do both.
The Affordable Healthcare Act requires all states to remove the prohibition
of receiving curative treatment upon election of the hospice benefit, according to the Arkansas Dept. of Human Services report to state lawmakers.
DHS estimated Medicaid enrolled hospice providers will get an additional $400,000 a year as a result.
The Arkansas Hospice tells KARK each year it provides in-house care for about 500 people, of those 15 to 20 are terminally ill children.
Hospice managers say they expect to see more given the rule change.
Starting January 2013, those parents will be able to do both.
The Affordable Healthcare Act requires all states to remove the prohibition
of receiving curative treatment upon election of the hospice benefit, according to the Arkansas Dept. of Human Services report to state lawmakers.
DHS estimated Medicaid enrolled hospice providers will get an additional $400,000 a year as a result.
The Arkansas Hospice tells KARK each year it provides in-house care for about 500 people, of those 15 to 20 are terminally ill children.
Hospice managers say they expect to see more given the rule change.
