3 ms·
> Our ruling > A post shared on Facebook claims hospitals have a financial incentive to claim patients had COVID-19, saying payment is three times higher if a p
by knowaveragejoe 5y ago
> Our ruling
> A post shared on Facebook claims hospitals have a financial incentive to claim patients had COVID-19, saying payment is three times higher if a patient goes on a ventilator. An article the post links to includes comments from a doctor who suggests the number of coronavirus cases is being padded.
> It is standard for Medicare to pay roughly three times more for a patient with a respiratory condition who goes on a ventilator than for one who does not. That has nothing to do with the coronavirus.
> As part of a federal stimulus bill, Medicare is paying hospitals 20% more than standard rates for COVID-19 patients.
> Indications are that due to a lack of testing and other factors, the number of coronavirus cases has been undercounted, not padded.
> For a statement that is partially accurate, our rating is Half True.