Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Medicare contractors are putting hospices on notice that they are watching for shady dealings regarding nursing home residents.

For example: Providers cannot request or demand that the patient revoke the hospice benefit while in the [skilled nursing facility/nursing facility], Medicare Administrative Contractor NHIC says in a recent message to providers.

Once a hospice chooses to admit a Medicare beneficiary, it may not automatically or routinely discharge the beneficiary at its discretion, even if the care promises to be costly or inconvenient, or the State allows for discharge under State requirements, NHIC explains in the message. The election of the hospice benefit is the beneficiary's choice rather than the hospice's choice, and providers cannot revoke the beneficiary's election. Neither should the provider request or demand that the patient revoke his/her election.