Opinion ID: 1727659
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: Future Medical Care

Text: The evidence established that Wagner's future medical expenses (including the cost of residential care at Village Northwest Unlimited) would be between $193,610 and $198,355 per year. This range did not reflect inflation or future increases in cost. These amounts were shown in a Life Care Plan compiled by Robin Welch-Shaver. Welch-Shaver has a bachelor of science degree in nursing and is a certified life care planner. The plan was formulated using information from Fickle, Wagner, the providers at Village Northwest Unlimited, and Drs. Wolcott, Lester Sach, Sarah Zoelle, and Lyal Leibrock. The life care plan considered that Wagner would remain a resident of Village Northwest Unlimited, which provided appropriate treatment, including 24-hour nursing care, physical and occupational therapy, cognitive-skills training, and other services. The plan also was based upon the fact that Wagner would always need a residential setting in which he would receive services similar to those he was receiving from Village Northwest Unlimited. The cost associated with Wagner's need for this residential setting was $462 per day, which equated to an annual cost of $168,630. Evidence at trial suggested that Wagner had been receiving Medicaid payments and that Village Northwest Unlimited was charging him at the Medicaid rate, which was lower than the rate paid by private parties. The State argues that the lower Medicaid rate should have been considered in calculating damages instead of the private-party rate. This argument has no merit. The private-party rate, not the Medicaid rate, is the proper rate to use in calculating Wagner's future medical expenses. Under the collateral source rule, the fact that the party seeking recovery has been wholly or partially indemnified for a loss by insurance or otherwise cannot be set up by the wrongdoer in mitigation of damages. Mahoney v. Nebraska Methodist Hosp., 251 Neb. 841, 560 N.W.2d 451 (1997). Social legislation benefits, including payments by Medicare and Medicaid, are excluded by the collateral source rule. See, Bynum v. Magno, 106 Hawai`i 81, 101 P.3d 1149 (2004) (holding that collateral source rule prohibited reducing patient's damages award to reflect discounted Medicare and Medicaid payments); Restatement (Second) of Torts § 920A, comment c. (1979). Moreover, once Fickle receives the judgment awarded in this case, Wagner may no longer be eligible for Medicaid (or Village Northwest Unlimited's Medicaid rate), because eligibility standards take into account the resources available to a Medicaid applicant or recipient. See Wilson v. Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Servs., 272 Neb. 131, 718 N.W.2d 544 (2006). The State also claims that certain medical expenses should not be included because they were controverted at trial. For instance, the State points out that Wagner was not required to take the following medications and supplements as a result of the accident: Aterol, multivitamins, and calcium supplements. The State also asserts that the cost of a motorized wheelchair should not be included as a future medical expense. The State further claims that the standard cost of a minivan should be deducted from the value of a minivan with customization; however, Welch-Shaver testified that it is not a common practice to deduct the base cost of a minivan without modification. Disregarding any adjusted figures for the modified van, we summarize that the State disputes various future medical expenses in the amount of $203,480 and argues that this amount should not be considered in the damages award. When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a judgment, we are mindful that every controverted fact must be resolved in favor of the successful party, and such party is entitled to the benefit of every inference that can reasonably be deduced from the evidence. See Baldwin v. City of Omaha, 259 Neb. 1, 607 N.W.2d 841 (2000). Giving Fickle the benefit of every inference that can reasonably be deduced from the evidence, Wagner's future medical expenses without inflation are between $7,744,400 and $7,934,200.