Medicare outpatient hospital care may not be what you think it is

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One response to “Medicare outpatient hospital care may not be what you think it is”

1. 

   May 24, 2015

   BARBARA JACHIMAK

   MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ARE BEING DENIED ACCESS TO MEDICARE’S SKILLED NURSING FACILITY BENEFIT BECAUSE ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS ARE INCREASINGLY CLASSIFYING THEIR PATIENTS AS “OUTPATIENTS” RECEIVING OBSERVATION SERVICES, RATHER THAN ADMITTING THEM AS INPATIENTS. AS I MENTIONED IN TIMES OF SICKNESS, MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES AND THEIR FAMILIES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR HOSPITAL BILLING CLASSIFICATION STATUS AND WHETHER OR NOT MEDICARE WILL REIMBURSE THEIR CARE.OUTPATIENT STATUS WAS BECOMING A SUBSTITUTE FOR INPATIENT STATUS. LONG STAY OUTPATIENT STATUS, HAS INCREASED BY 88% AND IS EXCEEDING 72 HOURS. ACCORDING TO MEDICARE STATUS SHOULD BE DONE IN 24 HOURS NO LONGER.

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