Search Results for: observation status

An 11-Year Fight Ends in Right to Appeal Hospital Observation Status Classifications

Andrew Roney, 70, spent three days in a hospital for an intestinal infection, and to his surprise, he got hit with a bill of $5,000. He had Medicare Part A hospitalization coverage and assumed it would cover his hospital stay. The … [Read more...]

Groundbreaking Decision Made on Observation Status Appeals

Q. My mother, Ellen, spent a week in the hospital and ended up having surgery. She was seen by doctors and nurses, given several tests, had the surgery, and then got sent to a nursing home for two weeks of rehabilitation. She is … [Read more...]

Is There Any Recourse for Hefty Observation Status Bills?

Q. In the past, you answered questions about hospitalized people who were too sick to go home but not sick enough to be admitted. Many of them were in the hospital for a week, thinking it would be covered by Medicare. They were … [Read more...]

Is it the End for Observation Status?

  Q. Late last year, you answered a question about a woman who spent a week in the hospital and was seen by doctors and nurses, given every kind of test imaginable, operated on, transferred to another room for … [Read more...]

She was in the Hospital a Week, and They’re Calling it Observation Status!

Image Source: Dailymail Q. Last month, my 82 year-old mother, Shirley, fainted and hit her back on the bathroom counter on her way to the ground. When she came to, she could hardly move, but she was able to grab her … [Read more...]

Hospitals Must Tell Medicare Patients if Care Is ‘Observation’ Only

Q. My father was in the hospital last month due to a fall in the stairwell at my parents' split-level home. My mother wasn't able to lift him herself, so the ambulance came to assist her. They thought he seemed weak and out of … [Read more...]

Medicare Advantage Plans May Shorten Stays to Less Time than Original Medicare Covers

A common question among many of our readers is whether Medicare covers long-term care. Medicare does not cover any type of long-term care, whether in nursing homes, assisted living communities, or your own home. Medicare does, … [Read more...]

Our Top 20 Articles of 2020

Last year (2020) was quite a year and, like most people, I am glad to see it go! Those who read our newsletter or follow our blog know that we covered a lot of ground during this challenging year. COVID-19 uprooted many areas of … [Read more...]

A Major Change to Therapy/Rehabilitation Coverage for Medicare Patients

Q. At age 62, my father, Paul, was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He can’t walk, get out of bed, or breathe on his own (he’s on a ventilator). He can’t use the toilet, bathe, or dress himself, either. After a … [Read more...]

Surprise Medical Bills May Become a Thing of the Past

Freya (80) had chest pains, a hacking cough, and a high fever when she was visiting her son, Andy. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to a hospital in her health plan’s network. As she headed home after a week's stay to … [Read more...]

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