It Isn’t That Complicated: You Don’t Have to Improve
September 12, 2016 at 8:05 pm Judith Stein Leave a comment
As the New York Times reports today, people don’t have to improve to qualify for Medicare-covered care in most settings. Unfortunately, older and disabled people are constantly told otherwise – and refused care as a result. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could fix this pretty easily. Just issue a CMS Ruling stating definitively and clearly that skilled nursing and therapy can be covered to maintain a patient’s condition or slow deterioration. It’s the law. Disseminate the Ruling to all Medicare providers and adjudicators. Post it on the CMS website.
If there’s the will, there’s the way.
Entry filed under: Access to Health Care, Improvement, Jimmo vs. Sebelius, Judith Stein, long-term care, Medicare, Myths, Myths. Tags: Deficit; Medicare, Fact and Fiction, Improvement, Jimmo, Maintenance.
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