Personal injury lawyers in Richmond Hill have an ongoing interest in attendant care benefits. One reason for that interest relates to the government’s tendency to alter the rules that apply to such benefits. In addition, lawyers know that the nature of a client’s injury can determine the same client’s ability to obtain such benefits.
The relation between the nature of a client’s injury and the chances that the same client might get money for attendant care
Coverage of attendant care expenses seldom gets granted in cases where victim has only a minor injury. The chance that such coverage could be granted does increase greatly, if the victim has suffered a catastrophic injury. Still, there is a maximum value for the coverage, and no one can get more than the figure that has been given as that maximum value.
Services covered by payments for attendant care
Meal preparation; clean up following the meal and the feeding of the cared-for individual. The acts demanded, in order to bathe, dress and groom the same individual. Supervision and observation of the person’s actions, so that he or she does not try to use a potentially harmful object, such as a paring knife.
The caregiver must transfer the injured person from the bed to the chair. Sometimes the transfer must be made in a lavatory, so that the injured person can void or perform a bowel movement. The caregiver must go along with the injured person when he or she visits the doctor or has an appointment elsewhere. That would include visits to places such as the beauty parlor or the barber.
Any of the above services could be administered to someone in a long term care facility. In such cases, the person providing the services would not be making the meals, but he or she might be expected to spend each night in that same facility. Sometimes the providers of attendant care services take different shifts. When a caregiver provides services 24/7, then arrangements must be made for services, during the days designated as the caregiver’s time off.
How money for attendant care normally gets paid out
An occupational therapist pays a visit to the person that has requested coverage for attendant care services. The therapist completes an assessment of the injured person’s needs. The therapist then fills out a form and submits it to the insurance company. Using the information on that submitted form, the insurer arrives at a decision.
The insurer decides what services are reasonable and necessary. The person that delivers such services then gets paid. The insurer considers each payment to be an incurred expense. That means the payment must get into the hands of the service provider; otherwise the insurance company will refuse to make the payment.