Humana Gold Plus HMO control over patients medical decisions Lexington, Kentucky

My mother was recently involved in a auto accident and taken to a ICU Trauma Unit in San Antonio. After 12 days in
ICU her Drs. recommended a LTac facility. Humana Gold Plus "reviewed" the Drs. recommendations and disagreed with their request. She was moved to another floor to wait until her chest tubes can come out before Humana will let us know what they will pay for. My mother is in a 3 person room with chest tube, broken hip, open wound, 6 broken ribs, heart problems, broken femur and instead of getting the help that a LTac would be able to provide, she is stuck waiting, against the Drs.
advice, for Humana to see how she progresses. I, her daughter live 200 miles away and  had to return to work after 12 days,(she is stable, just not getting well enough to stand or get tubes out) I offered to pay for transportation to Houston, where I live so that I could be there daily to assist in her recovery and help with decisions. Humana refuses to move her even though the Drs. say it would be best for her to get the care a LTac offers and to be with family. Humana is keeping her there
and making all decisions as to what care she is receiving based on what they will pay for.

My mother pays a good amount to Humana as a replacement for her Medicare thinking that she would receive the best of care. Humana has taken away her right to participate in the decisions of her health care. I would encourage anyone with parents that have Humana Gold Plus to examine other options. Even the Drs. and hospital staff have told me that their hands are tied and they hate to see people come in with Humana because they know they can not give them the level of care that
they need. Medicare is a much better option. Do not let your parents be in the position that my mother is in. Helpless and at the mercey of a review panel deciding what is best for her.

sad daughter
3/9/12 12:02PM