Mom has been in a quad room ($275/day) since late 2014. She contracted Covid last year. Facility chose to move her to semi-private room ($290/day). Billing was correct and fully paid thru 31 July. The bill for Aug did not arrive until beginning of Sept. It was back- billed to July 1, 2021. Facility moved Mom because they "assumed" she may still be contagious. Assured me room charge would not increase and she would be moved back to quad room after testing negative. Bill received early September at a cost of $300/day back-billed to July 1? Mom has never been in a deluxe private room. Two months later facility is still insisting increased cost? What would you do?
They should have a + test existing for whomever (staff, another resident) was Covid + and should have used the date the + result was done as day 1 for quarantine for possible exposures like your mom (and day 1 for isolation for the + case). Testing is free for those on Medicare although there can be an administrative fee. So no excuse not to be able to do. If all this occurred this past summer (2021), there were plenty of test kits for congregate facilities as they were a priority.
After Day 10, you are assumed ok & out of quarantine.
A good facility would have done a PCR test (2-3 day results) on everyone at the facility & a quick antigen as well to do an immediate determination of whose r sick and r at risk within 24 hrs of a +. Both take a few minutes to do; they r easily done w minimal skill. That’s how you segregate and reduce risk.
I’d ask the facility the specifics on the dates testing was done. It’s not a HIPPA violation, u r asking for test date(s) not individual results. Unless your mom was herself Covid +, after day 10 she was good on not having Covid. She could go back into general population which for her was her old quad room. If they chose to have her stay in a single or double room, that was their choice. Mom was Covid negative so no need to segregate. Yes definitely contest the bill. Imo this place is up charging whomever to make up for lost revenues due to Covid costs.
& I agree w Geaton 100% that this place is sloppy and unprofessional. Once things settle, I’d quietly be looking for another facility for her.
I am sorry for this difficulty. My mother has been in 2 different facilities in 2 different states. The first was for profit,the second not for profit. We dealt with all sorts of price increases but at least each facility did make us aware ahead of time that there would be an increase. I think you need to speak to the person in an a position of authority regarding the billing issues. Your post makes me feel you don't presently have all the information you need to know.