What is the most time specific patients can spend in Observation?
Medicare – observation services cannot exceed 48 hours. Typically a decision to discharge or admit is made within 24 hours.
Medicaid allows up to 48 hours
Private Insurances may vary but most permit only 23 hours in observation.
At the end of your observation stay, your physician will decide whether to discharge you from the hospital or to admit you as an inpatient.
