Caught in the middle. Under tough scrutiny from the CMS over which patients should be admitted for care, hospitals are frustrated--and patients are fighting back.
As hospitals face growing pressure to reclassify inpatients to "observation" status, patients are the ones being hit with unexpected bills to pay what Medicare won't. One solution to the dilemma is a bill that would restructure the rules on when skilled-nursing care is paid for. "We have very broad-based support," says U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), left, one of the House sponsors.
Joe
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Carlson
D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D004469:Economics, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000145:classification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D019370:Observation; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States