In This Issue:

- What Providers Should Know

- Requirements for Inpatient Admissions and Payment Under Medicare Part A

- New Rules Permitting Re-billing Under Medicare Part B for Denied Admissions

- New HAC Reduction Program

- Limitations on LTCH Payments

- For More Information

- Excerpt from What Providers Should Know:

Inpatient Admissions-

Although CMS delayed enforcement of the 2-midnight rule (as described further below) until January 1,2014, hospitals should have policies and procedures in place to ensure that any inpatient admissions reimbursed under Medicare Part A occur only pursuant to a physician order that is based on an anticipated inpatient stay that spans two midnights and for which the hospital has appropriate physician certifications/recertifications. To prepare for the January 1, 2014 enforcement start date of the 2-midnight rule, hospitals may want to consider changing documentation forms to ensure that the required orders occur prior to admission and that the appropriate certifications/ recertifications occur before discharge.