Atlanta providers reach deal on indigent dialysis

By Kate Brumback
September 7, 2011

ATLANTA (AP) - Atlanta's safety net hospital has reached an agreement with a private dialysis provider to ensure treatment for a group of indigent patients who had their life-sustaining treatment cut off last week when a previous contract expired.

Spokespeople for both Grady Memorial Hospital and Fresenius Medical care say a deal was reached Wednesday.

Grady spokesman Matt Gove says the hospital will pay Fresenius to treat the patients, but the details were still being worked out.

Grady provided regular care for the nearly two dozen patients - many of whom are illegal immigrants - until budget cuts forced it to close its outpatient dialysis clinic two years ago.

Some patients became critically ill after they were turned away from a Fresenius clinic and from Grady's emergency room after the previous agreement expired.

From The Associated Press

I'm a soft touch for the most part, but I also couldn't imagine traveling to, say, Venezuela or Chile without an emegency plan.

What will you do if you're struck ill overseas?

Hell, I'll just stick to the U.S. of A. and hope that my PPO doesn't go tits up.

Anyone here use a passport frequently? Have you had to be admitted to a hospital overseas? I've heard horror stories.