Medicare-eligible patients may find themselves in the hospital, receiving medical services, tests, and treatment, sometimes for many days, but find out too late that they are considered outpatients, in Observation Status, not admitted inpatients. Observation status continues to harm Medicare beneficiaries and their families. With generous support from the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Center for Medicare Advocacy has put together an Observation Status Toolkit that can be used by patients and their advocates. This information is provided to help you understand and respond to an “outpatient” Observation Status designation.
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