ABSTRACT
Patients with intestinal failure (IF) represent a challenge for any institution because of the complexity of their condition. Due to their unique medical needs, patients are often hospitalized for extended periods of time, thus leaving institutions with the charge of obtaining insurance approvals for lengthy admissions, oftentimes involving out-of-state approvals. In addition to the medical and insurance challenges, many families face additional social and —nancial hardships in order to be evaluated and treated at facilities that may be far from home. This chapter highlights the intricacies of caring for IF patients and discusses the common social issues that arise during treatment along with insurance roadblocks faced by many families in navigating the approval process.
