Q&A: Postacute patient choice

Q. Should a choice be given for all types of postacute care providers?

A. This area of concern is particularly important for hospital discharge planners referring patients to durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, or long-term care and rehabilitation providers. The Social Security Act ensures patient choice, and goes beyond the need for a list of home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, and hospices, to choice for all types of providers. Freedom of choice applies to DME supplies that long-term care or rehabilitation services provide. Providing a discharge plan that gives patients a choice of qualified providers of services should be a consistent practice.

For more information, see Discharge Planning Guide: Tools for Compliance, Fourth Edition.

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