That's exactly what American Medical Response, an ambulance service in Topeka, Kansas is planning on doing. If you weigh more than $350, plan on paying an extra $543. The extra cost is justified by the extra equipment required to transport morbidly obese patients.
An ambulance ride with American Medical Response in Topeka, Kansas will soon cost an extra $543 for folks weighing 350 pounds or more. Though AMR already owns cots that can support up to 500 pounds, they claim that because of rising demand from so-called "bariatric patients," they now need to buy winches and "extra large and reinforced cots."
Of course, this only applies to those with private insurance, and probably those without any insurance. I find it interesting that Medicare won't pay more, considering that I am asked by the in house hospital chart police to document "morbid obesity" on patients that meet that criteria. I can only assume it's because documenting morbid obesity is considered a complicating illness or major complicating illness that increases the overall payment a hospital gets for its diagnosis related group (DRG).
So what do you think? If airlines charge fat people for an extra seat, should an ambulance be able to do the same?
4 Outbursts:
Without question. YES.
Yep...and the hospital should be able to charge extra for the two or three aides needed to move the patient aroun. One particular 1250 lb 24 year old was the cause of five worker's comp injuries. After that, twice a day the staff had to wait for eight (8) extra folks, from transport, security, etc to even turn this guy. He didn't get oob until he was down to 950, ambulated at 870, and was d/c'd to a SNF at 850 lbs. He coded and died of a massive MI two days later.
BTW--has anyone ever met a super morbidly obese (i.e., immobile from obesity) who did not have SERIOUS mental health issues??
Pattie, RN
Holy moly, Pattie. 1250 pounds? That's a lot of cheeseburgers.
Yeah, the obese (I've yet to take care of a super morbid obese, thank you Jesus) is a strain on staff, not only with moving the patient, but also with nursing issues such as keeping the skin folds clean and dry, finding and keeping an IV, etc. Yesterday I struggled for over ten minutes to get the largest pair of ted hose over a obese patient's legs.
So yeah, if the service needs the extra charge to keep its staff safe, then that's what it needs.
Absolutely.
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