If you are a Medicare patient and you feel that you are being discharged from the hospital too soon, know that you have rights. It is important to know what your rights are and how to appeal.
Medicare requires hospitals to give patients information about their discharge and rights to appeal. You should receive your first notice after you have been admitted and the second notice before discharge. It will most likely be in fine print on the bottom of your paperwork, and it will state “An Important message from Medicare.”
If you receive your notice of discharge and you are not ready to leave, you should contact your local Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) immediately.
QIO is a group of doctors and professionals who monitor the care delivered to the Medicare patients. You must contact the QIO by midnight on the day of your scheduled discharge. If you contact the QIO right away, you will not be responsible to pay for your care while you wait for them to review your case.
It is the QIO’s job to review the circumstances of your discharge. They will request your medical records. They will review the medical necessity, appropriateness, and the quality of hospital treatment provided to the patient. After the review is complete, you will receive a phone call and letter with the decision. Bottomline, during the QIO’s review the hospital cannot discharge you nor will you have to pay for the additional days in the hospital. Don’t forget, you have rights too.
Below please find your local Quality Improvement Organization helpline
Pennsylvania, Maryland & Delaware 866-396-4646
New Jersey 866-815-5440
Iowa 888-755-5580
Ohio 855-524-9900
Remember if you feel that the hospital is discharging you too early, call the QIO above and file an app