Corporate Compliance

CMS Public Events: CMS posts follow-up to HODF question

Medicare Weekly Update, December 1, 2009

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On November 23, CMS posted the following on its Web site in response to a question raised at the November 19 Hospital and Hospital Quality Open Door Forum (HODF) conference call:

Patient Leaving Hospital Against Medical Advice After a Physician Order to Admit before Occupying an Inpatient Bed: 100.4 Chapter 3 40.2.2(K)– Inpatient Acute Care Hospital Admission Followed By a Death or Discharge Prior To Room Assignment- A patient of an acute care hospital is considered an inpatient upon issuance of written doctor's orders to that effect. If a patient either dies or is discharged prior to being assigned and/or occupying a room, a hospital may enter an appropriate room and board charge on the claim. If a patient leaves of their own volition prior to being assigned and/or occupying a room, a hospital may enter an appropriate room and board charge on the claim as well as a patient status code 07 which indicates they left against medical advice. A hospital is not required to enter a room and board charge, but failure to do so may have a minimal impact on future DRG weight calculations.

A transcript and audio recording of the November 19 HODF conference call are now available to MedicareFind subscribers.

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