Medicare Watch Newsletter

Here is some interesting advise from the Medicare Watch Newsletter regarding a person's rights upon admission when a skilled nursing facility says that Original Medicare will not pay for your care will depend on whether the facility will agree to admit you anyway.

If the facility will NOT admit you because it believes that Medicare will NOT pay, you MUST find another facility.

If the facility will admit you but believes that you do not qualify for Medicare coverage, you do have the right to ask the facility to bill Medicare anyway. This is called DEMAND BILLING.

When the facility believes that Medicare will not cover your care because your health doesn't require the need for the skilled facility or you only need custodial care or non medical care, the facility must give you either a "Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice" or a form attached to a denial letter.

For more useful info go to
www.medicareinteractive.com

Fall Prevention Tips

Tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

1. Make sure your home has good lighting and that light switches are easily accessible. Motion sensor lights are also a good idea.
2. Install grip bars. For example, put handrails in the bathtub and toilet areas.
3. Repair any loose carpet or boards in your home and secure any rugs.
4. Keep your furniture at a height that is not too low or too high. For example, make sure your bed is high enough so that you don’t have trouble getting in and out.
5. Always buy chairs and sofas that are easy to get up from.
6. Make sure your floors aren’t slippery. Use nonskid floor wax, slip-resistant rugs and nonskid adhesive textured strips. Clean up any spills right away.
7. Try to keep your home clutter-free

Foe more tips go to: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00123