Medicare Seeks To Limit Number Of Seniors Placed In Hospital Observation Care

By Susan Jaffe   |   May 3, 2013    |     KAISER HEALTH NEWS  in collaboration with 

Medicare officials have proposed changes in hospital admission rules that they say will curb the rising number of beneficiaries who are placed in observation care but are not admitted, making them ineligible for nursing home coverage.

“This trend concerns us because of the potential financial impact on Medicare beneficiaries,” officials wrote in an announcement April 26. Patients must spend three consecutive inpatient days in the hospital before Medicare will cover nursing home care ordered by a doctor.

…The reaction from patient advocates, doctors and hospitals has been swift and surprisingly unanimous: it’s a bad idea. MORE