75% rule!!!!

75% rule /CMS-13 will be the death of may rehab hospitals. Still a great deal of politics and trying to get the ruling changed, if it isn't changed many of the Rehab Hospitals will be forced to close. That is sad.

The 75% rule certainly does make things tense at times. I am PPS nurse at rehab hospital and these new regs keep me hopping. Our census has been up and down at times as we try to stay above the 60% mark. We are hoping they will extend the time where we can do 60% rather than 75%. As we get used to the new criteria we will become more adept at looking for patients who fit the CMS and also at the comorbidities that help to make them fit.

I've got a quick question. Does anyone know specifically which 13 diagnoses medicare will count towards the 75%? Can't seem to find them. Thanks! Sue

I am a rehab nurse in Missouri. We too have been hit by the cuts-hard!! We have a 20 bed unit, and since May `06 average 4-5 patients. We have become the new float pool at my hospital. It is really sad for patients that could benefit from our services-but dont "qualify". We are also getting patients that shock us to be on a rehab floor. Scary times:uhoh3:

I work in acute rehab facility. Everyone is being hit hard but to date we have maintained census but patients are very sick coming to us. PIC Lines, codes, etc. I predict allied health will be at bedside in ICU and inpatient rehab will vanish.

Rehab is not a hotel for sure...we would expect more from hotel. Reimbursement policies make it impossible to service appropriately.

You know what saved my rehab unit, bilateral knees! Our ortho unit has had a doubling or trippeling of the number of bilat. knee surgeries, which by in large come to rehab. They qualify automatically for admission to rehab unit where as single knees really have to fight to get admitted. That is the situation for time being. I would not be surprised in the future if bilat. knee situation reimbursement rules changed. How in heck all these people in late 70s and early 80s could go straight home after 3-5day acute inpatient stay is beyond me considering they can hardly move.

But I would not be surprised if medicare and other insurances suddenly announced bilat knees do not qualifty.