September 10, 2025

Always Something More to Explore

Today I found the time between clients to answer the call from Mom’s caseworker at the rehab without having to return the call. She shared Mom’s EDD and stated that Mom has a certain number of authorized days in their facility this time around. It seemed like she might be new because when I questioned her about this, stating that Mom has been in the Acute Rehab Level of Care multiple times in two different facilities and no one ever talked about a time limit that Medicare had authorized. Thankfully this time it seems, in the improved condition she appears to be in, that it will be enough time for her to be ready to come home.

But I asked to speak with someone who could explain the authorization and billing information a bit better and the caseworker said she would have to find someone to ask to call me. She also did not know how to transfer me to the nurse’s station and I waited while she asked someone. Totally understandable if she is new, but she did not explain to me that she is new and I truly would prefer to know what she does not yet know so that I can seek out someone there who does know the information I am looking for.

And once transferred to the nurse’s station I asked about the xray that Mom had today and Mom had already texted me that they had just completed the xray. The nurse told me the xray technicians were still on the floor so it might be later this evening until I receive a call back with the results. I was as kind as possible, made sure she had my number and clearly requested a call back. It’s a good thing that as I drove home at 4:30 PM I called Mom on her cell phone and she was able to tell me what they found on the xray (which this time thankfully sounded like it was nothing of significance), but what if my loved one couldn’t keep me updated by cell phone.

The nurses never called me back. Nor did anyone from the medical team. And no one was going to tell me about the xray she had just had because I brought it up to the caseworker and she admitted that she knew about it. When was anyone going to calk and tell me?

The grass is not necessarily greener at the big hospital’s rehab and this new insurance benefits info regarding a limited authorization is definitely something new for this sandwiched advocate to find out more about. Always best to know more before, heaven forbid, next time.