My sister came with her dog to visit my mom (who was living in my guest house). The dog knocked her down, breaking her hip.

Medicare doesnt get Involved with something Like this - it was an accident .

This was an accident.
There will be no recouping of funds.
The sister, I am certain, is now forewarned.
Falls happen all the time for elders, dog or no. But clearly now sis will understand that the visiting pet needs to be on-leash.

I would be VERY careful going down this road. While your sister should have left her dog at home, if it occurred on YOUR property - you could be held liable if you start down any kind of recoup process. No your sister should not have brought her dog. But if you start down this road, you will likely hear "why didn't you just tell her to leave if you knew it was dangerous for your mother?"

You don't think Medicare should be paying for it? I'm sorry I missed a step somewhere - is that not what insurance and Medicare are for? Ultimately it was an accident. And while you didn't mention suing your sister, how exactly do you think that you would recoup any money otherwise?

I don't understand why people think it's a good idea to take their dogs with them when they go to visit someone. I'm a pet lover, but as a pet owner I've seen how they can get spooked, especially in unfamiliar situations. Something startles them; they react. Sometimes someone gets hurt.

"Oh, but Doggie-Pye loves my mom so much!" That's why Doggie-Pye jumps on mom? It's not fair to Doggie-Pye OR mom to put them in such a situation.

I used to be subjected to my parents' little dog, Smoochie. Darling dog, but she barked the whole time of every visit (they assumed she was invited but I didn't invite the dog, just them). They gave her treats to shut her up. So she barked again after every treat. I suggested that Smoochie barked too much. Incredulous looks from my mother, who said she did not. I said she'd barked all through dinner and it was hard to converse. Mom said that Smoochie used to bark when they first got her, but she didn't now. I gave up. Mom was never going to admit the apparent.

Just leave your dog home, people.

Can I notify medicare that this was a personal injury negligence situation so they can recoup the funds from my sister? No, there's no such a thing. You say you don't want to sue her, but how else will you get her to pay the money for her medical expenses -- to anyone. Never mind that -- what about the $7k per month that your Mom has to pay for who-knows-how-long? FYI Medicare gets its money from us, the taxpayers. She should pay us. Your sister was a bonehead for not keeping her dog in control when she knew your Mom lives there. I had a neighbor do something similar: my 95-yr old Mom was at the bank of mailboxes and a young woman had her standard poodle off the leash (in spite of leash laws). The dog ran up to her and tried to run through her legs. Good thing she had something to hold on to.

You want to sue your sister for an accident?