>Hospitals' increasing use of observation status harms more Medicare beneficiaries daily as patients hospitalized for multiple days are denied coverage of subsequent care in a skilled nursing facility because their time in the hospital was … [Read more...] about Three Observation Status Bills Have Been Introduced; Only Congressman Courtney’s Has Immediate Promise
Observation Status
New CMS Rules Do NOT Change Requirement for 3-Day Qualifying Inpatient Hospital Stay
The Center for Medicare Advocacy has heard that some Medicare beneficiaries believe that new federal rules authorize Medicare to pay for their nursing home care if they are inpatients in a hospital for two midnights. This belief is NOT … [Read more...] about New CMS Rules Do NOT Change Requirement for 3-Day Qualifying Inpatient Hospital Stay
Disappointing Decision from Court in Challenge to “Observation Status” Highlights Need to Pass Legislation
On September 23, a federal judge in Connecticut dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Center for Medicare Advocacy and the National Senior Citizens Law Center on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries who have been placed on "observation … [Read more...] about Disappointing Decision from Court in Challenge to “Observation Status” Highlights Need to Pass Legislation
Observation Status Round Up
While Observation Status continues, recent weeks have seen a great increase in awareness of the problem. In addition, support for legislation to end Observation Status has grown rapidly.What is Observation Status?Observation Status … [Read more...] about Observation Status Round Up
Observation Status: New Final Rules from CMS Do Not Help Medicare Beneficiaries
Effective October 1, 2013, new rules for inpatient hospital reimbursement under the Medicare program[1] make final two sets of proposed rules that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published in the Spring 2013 – the … [Read more...] about Observation Status: New Final Rules from CMS Do Not Help Medicare Beneficiaries
Observation Status: OIG Provides an Analysis and CMS Issues Final Regulations
Joining the discussion about hospitals' extended use of observation status, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued a memorandum report that describes the nationwide use of observation and … [Read more...] about Observation Status: OIG Provides an Analysis and CMS Issues Final Regulations
Observation Status: “Morphed Into Madness”
Although a large and increasing number of Senators and Representatives now support bipartisan legislation to solve the problem of Observation Status, many beneficiaries and their families continue to face this outpatient status as a barrier to … [Read more...] about Observation Status: “Morphed Into Madness”
CMS Addresses Observation Status Again… And Again, No Help for Beneficiaries
As part of the annual update to inpatient hospital reimbursement under the Medicare program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is again considering observation status. This time CMS is proposing "a time-based … [Read more...] about CMS Addresses Observation Status Again… And Again, No Help for Beneficiaries
End Observation Status!
$30,000 – that’s Mrs. Kauffman’s nursing home bill for care she received following a three-day hospitalization. Although she was in the hospital for three full days, Mrs. Kauffman was never admitted as an inpatient. Instead, she was … [Read more...] about End Observation Status!
CMS’ Proposed Rules on Observation Status Would Not Help Beneficiaries
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued proposed rules and an interim CMS Ruling to allow hospitals to bill Medicare Part B after a Part A claim is denied. 78 Fed. Reg. 16,632 (March 18, 2013).[1] These … [Read more...] about CMS’ Proposed Rules on Observation Status Would Not Help Beneficiaries