This is a review of our experience with VITAS Healthcare and their hospice services. It’s disheartening to expect dignified and compassionate care, especially when Medicare is billed a substantial amount. Unfortunately, VITAS Healthcare didn’t live up to these expectations, and I believe they should be investigated for potential abuse and overbilling of Medicare.
Before considering VITAS services, please read our review. If we had to struggle and complain extensively, one can only imagine the challenges faced by elderly individuals without an engaged family member.
My father, facing advanced Alzheimer’s at 79, needed assistance beyond what my mother could provide alone. We sought help from VITAS while living in Hialeah, Florida. The initial pitch promised comprehensive services, including aides, nurses, doctor visits, and necessary supplies like cleaning items, lotions, diapers, wipes, and nutritional drinks.
In Hialeah, VITAS provided daily aide visits for about 30 minutes each, but issues surfaced with staff coordination, hinting at a haphazard approach to claim Medicare funds.
Despite initial normalcy, problems arose when we moved to Palm Beach to be closer to my brother. VITAS in Palm Beach reduced aide visits to three times a week, which was inadequate for my now bedridden father.
The last two years in Palm Beach involved constant battles with VITAS over services and supplies. They reluctantly increased aide visits to five days a week after persistent complaints. Supply delivery became a regular fight, with claims of shortages and supply line issues.
Unlike Miami, where a doctor visited every month or two, Palm Beach’s assigned doctor was seen only twice in two years. Although a weekend doctor was friendly, the overall experience seemed focused on minimizing services and supplies. I discovered VITAS had settled a lawsuit for defrauding the government and overbilling.
When I asked for a detailed breakdown of the $4,800 monthly charged to Medicare, VITAS provided vague information, refusing to clarify their billing system.
In the end, our family’s experience with VITAS Healthcare was frustrating and marked by constant battles for necessary services and supplies. It appeared that the corporation prioritized cost-cutting over providing adequate care, despite their executives receiving substantial compensation.
Even during my father’s last hours when most needed, VITAS proved unreliable. Placed on 24 hour Critical Care with morphine, VITAS withdrew the nurse on the night shift (Chris from team 16), leaving me, a family member, and my 82-year-old mother alone to care for my father.
In summary, our review of VITAS Healthcare’s hospice services reveals a corporation seemingly prioritizing its bottom line over the well-being of the families they serve, while executives receive substantial compensation.
VITAS Healthcare, a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (a publicly traded company CHE), is the largest hospice provider in the US, with a notable market share. However, our experience raises concerns about their commitment to quality care and transparency.
I do want to add that even though the services were lacking, and very poorly managed, the staff (our aide, and nurse) were very friendly and nice. Unfortunately the management team, or corporate structure seems to be one of insensitive greed.