Well, I'll add my story too. My son was born 8 weeks premature. He was in the NICU 11 days, in the step-down unit for 3 days. His only medical concern was jaundice, a very mild case of jaundice. On Day 4, a nurse from our insurance company came to review his chart. "When is he going home?" she asked. "I have no idea," I replied. "Well, when is he being moved to a step-down unit?" Again, I had no idea. She was completely baffled that a healthy, no IV, no meds, eating on his own baby was in a NICU bed.
It became clear to me that it was a battle between the hospital trying to overcharge and the insurance company trying to underpay. NICU reimbursement rate is $$$$, but step-down units are only $$.
Oh, and one funny (sort of) story. One day my husband and I got to the step-down unit and there was, of course, yet another new nurse we'd never met before.
"How do you pronounce his name? Opus? Opoz?" she said.
"His name is Bob," we replied. (This was also on a sign on his isolette.)
"No, no, no...here look at his chart...Opos?" she insisted.
"Uh...that's his blood type. O Positive."
"Oh...ha ha ha...the previous nurse didn't report out to me so I didn't know. Ha ha ha."
Yeah. Ha ha ha. Wonder how much the hospital was paid for her "nursing" care?
Julie