The Joplin Daily posted a thorough look into the transgressions that have put Freeman Health System on notice about continuing its participation in Medicare.
Using Freedom of Information requests, Editor John Hacker not only came up with the details of the Freeman allegations, but also discovered that a complaint has been registered about St. John's as well.
This is an important story for Joplin and the Daily may be beginning to make its mark by digging into it.
7 comments:
Just a curiosity... If Freeman Hospital ends up facing a big fine over these medicare allegations, how can they continue to have the money to build on to the existing facilty (example: Freeman West, 6 story addition)? Will they cut employees salaries or not give them the much needed raise they deserve?
I wonder why the Glob has not put that in the paper? They never seem to print bad things about St John's. Seems wrong in some way or another. It is funny though that the head of St John's was quoted as saying it would be hard but they would take the patients, like in a disaster or something, all the while knowing their butts are in the same spot as Freeman. Why can't they just get along?!!!
Some who subscribes to the Globe told me that they put the Freeman (small) article this weekend on the last page behind the classifieds....Is it true that the Globe and Freeman are good are "bedfellows", so to speak?
The instances cited in the article are very big no-nos in the medical field.
Is St. John's really in the "same shape" as Freeman--as one commenter implies?
The story I read mentioned an investigation was taking place but the 90-day period had not yet elapsed for any details to be revealed. Who knows what's happening?
Freeman will receive a fine, a slap on the hand and be allowed to continue business as usual. And yes, they'll probably use it as a reason to not give average (non-top of the heap) employees a raise.
My guess is the building project will go on.
Priorities, you know.
Freeman hospital has been dumping non pay patients,medicaid patients on St. Johns for 10 years, it continues every single day, Freeman has no intention of treating a single non pay patient as long as they can "dump" them across the street.
I was dumped by Freeman when an executive denied my medical treatment after an exposure to God knows what. I completed the necessary paperwork, handed it to the executive (my boss). She signed it and promptly threw it away. I was too scared to buck the system. Even if I had, they would have found numerous reasons to fire me. During one of the many investigations into Freeman's pattern and practice of noncompliance issues, the Missouri Worker's Comp Division discovered that Freeman was noncomplaint in my case. Is the State of Missouri going to do anything about this form of patient dumping? The investigator told me that even if he did find that Freeman conspired against me, Freeman would only receive a misdemeanor charge. However, if an employee is charged with FRAUD against the State of Missouri, they lose all rights, receive stiff fines and possible jail time. It's no wonder Freeman's elite think they are above the law. The law allows it. It's time to change the laws, folks. Don't let big business and special interest groups determine the fate of your health and wellbeing. How many current and ex-employees are there who have been sacraficed so that the voice of big business can continue to sit on its throne. How many others will be denied treatment; their medical records mysteriously "lost" with no trace of the patient visiting the doctor? How many others will be asked to "give up US Constitutional and Missouri Constitutional Rights" in order to cover up what the cats don't want you to see or smell?
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