LIFE CARE PLANNING
A Life Care Plan is a dynamic, systematic document, based on the Accepted Standards of Practice which outlines the needs of catastrophically injured or aging clients. A well documented plan will include a comprehensive narrative which includes, details of the event, medical documentation review, background information, functional abilities, an inperson client/family assessment, medical consultations and a detailed cost table based on a patient's anticipated life expectancy*.
A thorough Life Care Plan is based on individual needs and may include but is not limited to costs associated with some or all the following areas:
•Routine/expected medical evaluations and surgeries
•Therapeutic evaluations and associated therapy/counseling
•Orthotic/Prosthetic Needs
•Medications
•Supplies
•Non- Medical Diagnostic/Educational
Testing/Individualized Educational Plans IEPs
•Home Care/Aids for Independent Function
•Long-Term Facility Needs
•Durable Medical Equipment Needs and Mobility.
•Transportation
•Architectural Renovations
•Health and Strength Maintenance
•Potential Complications
* The CDC National Life tables are used to calculate life expectancy. For further information regarding life expectancy and/or amended life expectancy seek the services of an economist.
WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM A LIFE CARE PLAN?
Patients, families and case mangers to provide counseling, education and support, mitigating possible complications; coordinate and facilitate resources for the acquistion of goods and services.
Attorneys(Plaintiff/Defense): To provide an accurate/objective analysis of damages resulting from an injury; utilizing a consistent methodology and provide expert witness testimony as applicable.
Trust Administrators: Help to control fund distribution by justifing necessary expenditures; identify needs, vendors and associated costs with an aging client with a disability.
Claims examiners: To provide a list of necessary services, supplies and DME to increase the accuracy of identifying and funding associated claims costs; provide a plan for on going case management; provide a foundation for managing Medicare Set-Aside Trusts.
Economists: To provide a detailed document to show current values of damages in an easy to read format in which to calculate/project actuarial data.
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