ALERT: if you or your parent(s) are on Medicare...

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

...and end up as a patient in the hospital, BE CERTAIN the hospital admission is NOT being billed as "under observation."

An illness or injury that will require rehab MUST be billed as an "inpatient" status. If it's billed as "under observation," Medicare will NOT cover any rehab charges...the patient/family will be stuck with the bill.

source

[Gregory Matthews]

This is an important issue. As correctly pointed out, some hospitals will place a patient under observation for several days. But this differs from hospital to hospital. I have never observed the hospital where I work place a patient under observation for more than 23 hours. As I have observed it, if a patient is hospitalized for 24 hours or more, that patient is admitted.

However, due to the type of hospital we are, which generally provided hospitalization at no cost to the patient, it does not make a financial difference to the patient as to how the paperwork reads as to their hospitalization.

NOTE: What do I mean by generally at no cost to the patient? Well, one example might be a person, not eligible for our care, who while on our property needs immediate clinical evaluation. I work with families of patients. On several occasions I have assisted such persons in obtaining clinical evaluation from our hospital staff. In such cases, we are able to bill the patient.

[LifeHiscost]

Thanks Rudy, for the tip. We are in a position that could demand a decision based on that. We are going to accept a promise from the Word before we get that far down the road.

"If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." Exodus 15:25 KJV

God cares! Jesus saves!