Jul. 28 at 1:43 PM
$ICU A suicidal man needed 8 wks of inpatient care. Insurance covered 6 days. Months later, he died by suicide. Why the denial stood should terrify anyone with insurance…In a STAT essay, emergency physician Dr. Joy Evers described what happened to her husband, Randy.His psychiatrist considered him very high risk and recommended 8 weeks of inpatient psychiatric treatment.6 days into the program, the insurer stopped paying.The treatment center appealed.
His psychiatrist documented why he still needed inpatient care.The denial stood. And he was discharged.
What followed was a cycle of outpatient programs, ER visits, brief admissions, and premature discharges.
Randy became too unstable to live safely with his wife and children.
Less than 4 months after the original denial, he died by suicide.
They had top-tier commercial insurance.
His psychiatrist documented the danger.
The treatment center appealed.
None of it was enough.
So why did the insurer uphold the denial?
