title: Hospital revamped admission process to comply with two-midnight rule.
abstract: A multidisciplinary team at Northwestern Lake Forest (IL) Hospital developed a way to change the admissions process to comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS') two-midnight rule. The team specified that patient status should be based on expected length of stay, severity of illness, intensity of expected services, and risks for the patient and had the information integrated into the medical record as a reminder for physicians. Case managers screen all patients for medical necessity before registration and recommend that patients who do not meet inpatient criteria receive observation services. The case management department gives patients receiving observation services a letter explaining their status, potential copays, and out-of-pocket expenses.
mesh_terms: D019090:Case Management; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007902:Length of Stay; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000592:standards*; D057832:Watchful Waiting / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence