
Medicare billing: Hospital "observation" can cost you
Posted on Tuesday November 14, 2017

Although Medicare doesn't cover general custodial nursing home care -- such as help with daily living, administering medicine, etc. -- it does pay for prescribed follow-up treatment in a skilled nursing facility with specialized care. To qualify for this benefit, though, Medicare patients must have previously stayed in a hospital for three days, not counting the day of discharge. Getting caught in this billing trap aren't just patients who need skilled nursing care. People who are discharged back to their homes can also pay more. (Source: CBS News; Photo by Skitterphoto, Pixabay)