Medicare guidelines state that patients must be given a choice when it comes to their discharge options, but hospitals have a number of other options when it comes to discussing discharge plans with their patients.
One of the more talked-about initiatives in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the creation of accountable care organizations (ACO) and the global payment pilot projects.
Condition code 44 has been problematic for hospitals since its inception in 2004 due to CMS’ unclear language, multiple changes to the observation billing rules, and inconsistent guidance.
Care providers accept the general principle that patients have the right to direct their own care, but what if the patient refuses every discharge option you provide and wants to stay in inpatient care indefinitely?
