Currently, Medicare policy states that a patient must have an inpatient hospital stay of three days or longer in order for Medicare to cover skilled nursing care. However, patients receiving hospital care on “observation status” are not eligible for the benefit, regardless of how long their hospital stay is.
The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act, introduced by Congressman Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Congressman Tom Latham (R-Iowa) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), would allow “observation status” time in a hospital to count toward the required three-day stay for coverage of skilled nursing care.
The bill has been endorsed by AARP, the American Health Care Association, the American Medical Association and the Center for Medicare Advocacy, among other groups.
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