Bizarre decision shows that when it comes to 3-day stay rule, there ought to be a law
There are many odd animals roaming our healthcare industrial complex. But few are more bizarre than Medicare’s three-day rule. Or more deserving of extinction.
Observation Stay
Progress in the hospital ‘observation stay’ chaos
When you complain about bizarre government conditions or regulations, as columnists are wont to do, you usually have to assume you’re just whispering into a stiff wind. But now comes word that no less than the Office of Inspector General of your Department of Health and Human Services is jumping on the bandwagon to change the hospital “observation stay” madness.
OIG finds ‘observation stay’ problems, calls for reform
Long-term care groups are among those hailing a federal study that raises critical questions about hospitals’ apparent over-use of “observation stay” designations for patients.
Kill inpatient eligibility requirement for skilled care, former CMS chief Berwick says
The former head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has said the agency should scrap a rule requiring three days as a hospital inpatient to qualify for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing care. Long-term care advocates praised the statement.
Progress in trying to undo the hospital ‘observation stay’ mess
What is this world coming to? When you complain about bizarre government conditions or regulations, you usually have to assume you’re just whispering into the wind.
Observation stay case debated in court
Government lawyers and opponents of Medicare’s “observation stay loophole” recently squared off in federal court, when a judge convened the first hearing in the Bagnall vs. Sebelius case. Richard Bagnall and other seniors denied Medicare coverage for skilled nursing care brought the case in 2011.
Medically Complex Medicare Part B
While CMS tries to figure out how to proceed with the manual medical review process, we continue to track our caps and apply our modifiers. In the meantime, has anyone noticed how our typical Medicare Part B patients have become more medically complex than just a few years ago?
Observation stay challenge heads to court
Government lawyers and opponents of Medicare’s “observation stay loophole” squared off in court on Friday, when a federal judge convened the first hearing in the Bagnall vs. Sebelius case.
Looking to open eyes about ‘observations’
Bully for provider groups pulling out the stops to draw attention to the ludicrous mishandling of “observation stay” designations by many hospitals. One prong of the plan is to have providers supply anecdotes about individuals hurt financially and emotionally by the practice.
Hoping for some ‘observation stay’ sanity
It was welcome news Tuesday to learn that the confirmation hearing for the person who could officially wind up holding the purse strings for most nursing home payments was civil. Even better was the nominee saying she would look into the ridiculous state of affairs concerning hospital observation stays.
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