Every patient receives a notice — Important Message from Medicare — that outlines his/her rights as a Medicare patient and ability to formally appeal a discharge decision. Now, patients must sign the document upon admission, and then they must be re-issued this form within two days of discharge.

“Physicians should be aware of this change, as it may cause questions or confusion from patients and family members,” Shuer explained. “The process may also result in a greater number of seniors staying longer in the hospital if they choose to appeal their physician’s decision to discharge them, and many hospitals have argued that this process is time and labor consuming and will result in many days worth of delayed discharges.

“As physicians we may be called to explain or reassure a discharge decision to a patient or family. Taking the time to make sure patients understand the decision and its context may make the difference whether a patient or family chooses to pursue the appeals process,” Shuer explained.

At SHC, the Admitting Department will be responsible for issuing the Important Message from Medicare form upon admission as well as re-issuing the form within 48 hours before discharge. Geriatric Health Services will be fielding the initial calls from patients with questions, and the Case Management Department will be responsible for facilitating any of the patient requests to appeal discharge decisions.

For further information, contact Elizabeth Polek, director of patient care services for the Department of Social Services/Case Management at epolek@stanfordmed.org or (650) 725-2503.