What does a Medicare Manager do exactly?

[sharlynn]

I 've been offered the position of Medicare manager. Everyone tells me it's stressful, but no one can tell me why or what I would be doing. Anyone ever done this?

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I was the PPS coordinator for a very busy skilled facility. It involved case managing as well. I was responsible for the Medicare patients' case managing...daily meetings with nursing and rehab to determine length of stay and the financial impact it would have on the facility. Many discussions with rehab about being part of the team...not telling the patient they were okay for discharge if they still had a nursing skill. It was a difficult job--we had anywhere from 22-30 Med A patients a month. You have to be organized, able to communicate well, and assertive enough to tell the PTs that there is more to skilling someone than rehab. And it helped a lot to have regular meetings with the docs so they were on the same page as us when it came to discharge.

[sharlynn]

Thanks! That gives me an idea of what I'd be in for! Now to decide if the extra pay is worth the responsibility.