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Ok, mom had a TIA mini stroke in Dec. The hospital released her within 24 hrs. She is a retired truck driver, but still. She keeps falling. We took her to hospital 3 times. I contacted hospice, got some emotionally unstable nurse to come by who could not understand. She didn't consider I might be a little overwhelmed by lack of sleep, and being a vet that survived 3 yrs in Iraq. I have a temper for BS. I was asked mom's social security number to verify her. I guess her passport, driver's license and birth certificate were not enough. I think I am in over my head. Should I be contacting an attorney now?

From ChatGPT: "Yes, a hospital or emergency room can ask for a patient�s Social Security Number (SSN), but you are not legally required to provide it in most cases. Why Hospitals Ask for an SSN: Billing and Insurance: Helps match your identity with insurance records or billing accounts. May be required by your health insurance company for claims. Patient Identification: Used internally to differentiate between patients with the same name or birth date. Credit Reporting or Collections: If you don�t pay your bill, your SSN can be used by the hospital�s collections department. Medicare/Medicaid: If you're a Medicare or Medicaid patient, your SSN may be tied to your benefits (though Medicare has shifted to new ID numbers since 2018). You Can Decline: You have the right to refuse giving your SSN unless you're receiving services where it is required (like Medicare billing). Refusal should not prevent emergency care (under EMTALA, the ER must stabilize anyone regardless of ability to pay or provide ID)."
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Reply to Geaton777
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Of course they should have her social security information. Please supply it to them.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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JoAnn29 Jun 20, 2025
Really, there is no reason they need it. Medicare stopped using SS#s and went to individual ID #s starting in 2018 and ending in 2020. My Blue Cross changed over before that. No one gets my SS# unless they have a goid reason to need it. I no longer put it on Dr forms. My birthdate should be enough.
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Why did you contact Hospice? Is she terminal? Hospice is for end of life care.

My insurance Companys do not use Social Security #s to identify me or my husband and have not for years. Medicare and my supplimental have IDs on the card and that should be enough. Medicare pays for Hospice and that card should be enough to identify her. On the older cards it says that SS cards are to be used for government use only. Phasing out the use of SS numbers for identification purposes has been going on for a while. Doctor offices now use birthdates for verification.

I would tell the Nurse you are not comfortable giving out Moms SS#. The passport should be enough. Best identification you can have. If she insists, call her supervisor. If they insist, call another Hospice.
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