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Anticipatory Guidance
Paying for a NICU Stay
MANAGING MEDICAL BILLS and the HIDDEN COSTS of the NICU
The costs associated with a NICU stay continue long past a family’s discharge.
Families will not receive the final bills until the baby has been home for some time.
Many families will be unprepared to navigate all the financial burdens associated with NICU hospitalization and follow-up care on their own.
Offering families clear anticipatory guidance to help families understand how to manage the costs.
Offer every family financial counseling and resources. Help them apply for assistance.
Provide them the referrals and letters of medical necessity that can help remove barriers to the care their infants need.
Each family should be offered this service regardless of perceived means.
Social work or case management are often the best prepared to engage families in discussions about finances.
Paying for a NICU Stay
While we seldom talk about it in the NICU, we all know that the care that is delivered there is expensive. Even if their medical expenses are covered, there are still costs associated with travel, meals, accommodations, parking, and lost wages.
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Many families will struggle to put the resources in place to pay their bills and continue to provide care for the infants after they're discharged.
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Compassionate, responsive, respectful professionals and providers can help families navigate applying for assistance and finding resources in your community.
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Arrange for the family to meet with social worker or case manager about potential financial burden associated with NICU and follow up care.
What will things look like when we go home?
Understanding baby's cue
How to console an infant... and what to do when the crying doesn't stop
Preparing for emergencies and staying safe
Adapting to the "new normal" and
coping with complicated emotions
Managing medical bills and the "hidden costs" of the NICU
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