Hospital Observation Status
• Observation status is when you need short term treatment care in a hospital. It allows time for your doctor to find out what is causing your symptoms.
• Medicare allows you to stay in the observation status from 24-48 hours. After this time, you will be admitted or discharged.
• Medicare clearly states that an inpatient admission is allowed only if the care you are receiving is the type of care that requires you to be in a hospital.
• Medicare does not allow doctors to order an inpatient stay because a patient or family members requests it or just because you need rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility (SNF).
• Hospitals and doctors MUST follow the Medicare rules.
• If you need short term rehabilitation in a skilled
nursing facility (SNF), Medicare will only consider payment for the rehabilitation if you have a 3-day INPATIENT hospital stay within the last 30 days.
• If you do receive rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility after being in observation status in a hospital you may be financially responsible for the rehabil
• Medicare allows you to stay in the observation status from 24-48 hours. After this time, you will be admitted or discharged.
• Medicare clearly states that an inpatient admission is allowed only if the care you are receiving is the type of care that requires you to be in a hospital.
• Medicare does not allow doctors to order an inpatient stay because a patient or family members requests it or just because you need rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility (SNF).
• Hospitals and doctors MUST follow the Medicare rules.
• If you need short term rehabilitation in a skilled
nursing facility (SNF), Medicare will only consider payment for the rehabilitation if you have a 3-day INPATIENT hospital stay within the last 30 days.
• If you do receive rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility after being in observation status in a hospital you may be financially responsible for the rehabil