Updated 1/16/09
If your loved one has been admitted to a hospital and needs skilled nursing therapy to regain some independence, make sure you inquire about it before you leave the hospital or soon afterward.
Medicare only allows admission to therapy within 30 days of a related hospital stay. There is no other legal way to receive this type of care through Medicare.
Though many people may tell you otherwise, there are two reasons why you shouldn’t try to fake an emergency to have your loved one readmitted to the hospital if your situation doesn’t fit within the rules. The first reason is you could be charged and convicted of Medicare fraud. The second is this country is in enough financial trouble right now without paying for unnecessary hospital bills. That money could be spent on care for your loved one.
If your situation falls outside the guidelines, pray about what to do next. You may also be able to find other options in your area if you call around.
To prevent facing this situation at all, make sure you read the latest Medicare rules if you haven’t already. Though keeping abreast of those rules may seem like an inconvenience, lack of understanding may someday hurt your loved one. It may also waste the government’s money and even more of your time and energy.
—-
Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.
© 2009 – 2011, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.
enormous register you bear
Glad you liked it. Please come back again.