No, Medicare will only pay if there is a medical condition that warrants postoperative monitoring. If you desire to stay over for patient/family convenience, you will be fully responsible for payment.
It is possible. For example, Medicare allows for a 4-6 hour recovery period. The intent of outpatient surgery is to have your surgery and be discharged the same day. However, if you experience a post-operative complication, then your physician may place you into observation to monitor you further.
Your physician must then write an order to convert your outpatient observation stay to a full inpatient admission.
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 […]
Medicare Part B covers outpatient hospital services. Generally, this means you pay a co-payment for each individual outpatient hospital service. This amount may vary by service. Note: The co-payment for a single outpatient hospital service can’t be more than the inpatient hospital deductible. However, your total co-payment for all outpatient services may be more than […]
If you’re in the hospital more than a few hours, always ask your doctor or the hospital staff if you’re an inpatient or an outpatient.
You’re an outpatient if you’re getting emergency department services, observation services, outpatient surgery, lab tests, or x-rays, and the doctor hasn’t written an order ot admit you to the hospital as an inpatient. In these cases you’re an outpatient even if you spend the night at the hospital.
You’re an inpatient starting the day you’re formally admitted to the hospital with a doctor’s order. The day before you’re discharged is your last inpatient day. The decision for inpatient hospital admission is a complex medical decision based on your doctor’s judgment and your need for medically necessary hospital care. An inpatient admission is generally appropriate when […]
