skilled days

At our facility, if a skilled resident is gone longer than 24 hrs and come back, they are considered a new admit.

resident came in facility and stayed 17 days went home for 13 days now needs to return and receive skilled services. Admission day would be day 30 from discharge of hospital stay. would he still qualify for services under the 30 day window. I say no, adon says yes. Please help

The 30-day window begins on the day of discharge from your facility or the day after the last day of skilled service. Therefore, resident was only out for 13 days and should be able to access the remainder of the original benefit period.

Let's say resident discharge home 7/1/10 on day 17 (medicare not billed for day of discharge, therefore he only used 16 days - not saying this is exactly what happened, only making and example).

Readmitted on July 13th. He would be able to return as Medicare A under the 30 day window provided he still meets skilled care criteria. He would have about 87 days of medicare A left.

As Talino said.. the 30 day count begins on the last day of skilled care in your facility..not the hospital discharge date.

The last 2 post are correct, still within 30 days to pick up again balance of days left. In my facility we track residents "cut' for 30 days if they have time left. Sometimes we are able to pick them up again. We also make courtesy calls to those discharged home, sometime they,or their family realize that they were not quite ready yet and return for additional care.

Thanks for all your help. This is just a wonderful place to be able to get advice and tips. Thanks to all.

If the resident has Medicare days left, of course he/she can reaccess. It's the 30 day rule....30 days after discharge from the hospital OR 30 days after dc from your facility.