Case Management

Patient Status Pocket Cards for Physicians

Case Management Insider, October 20, 2015

This pocket card will help physicians determine the appropriateness of patient status based on expected length of stay through a series of guidelines and a decision tree chart based on Medicare regulations. Healthcare professionals can carry the laminated card in a lab coat pocket and refer to it when determining whether a patient should be admitted as inpatient, be placed in observation, or receive outpatient services.
Inpatient orders are a condition of Medicare payment and evolving requirements make determining patient status an ongoing challenge.

CMS' 2014 IPPS final rule redefined inpatient admissions by implementing the 2-midnight rule, which requires a validated physician order, documentation of medical necessity, and the expectation of a stay crossing two or more midnights. However, the 2015 OPPS final rule changed this requirement so that as of January 1, 2015, physician certification is only required for long-stay cases that are expected to last at least 20 days, as well as outlier cases.

For more information or to order, call 800/650-6787 and mention Source Code EZINEAD or visit the HCPro Healthcare Marketplace.

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