Case Study 2: Finance And Reimbursement Objective Answer

Case Study 2 Finance And Reimbursementobjectiveanswer The Following

Case Study 2 Finance And Reimbursement objective: Answer the following questions in well-developed sentences or short paragraphs. As the case manager, how would you respond to the following questions? Question 1: Assuming that Hilda meets Medicare criteria for the services described here, how many days of SNF care is she entitled to during her most recent stay (assume that she qualifies for the full 100 days)? Question 2: How much in deductibles and copayments does Hilda have to pay? (For 2021, the Part A deductible was $1,484 and the daily copayment for SNF was $185.50.)

Paper For Above instruction

As a case manager assessing Hilda's recent stay in a skilled nursing facility (SNF), it is imperative to understand her entitlement under Medicare coverage. Assuming Hilda meets all Medicare criteria—such as having a qualifying hospital stay of at least three consecutive days and entering the SNF within 30 days of hospital discharge—she would be eligible for up to 100 days of SNF care. This maximum is provided under Medicare Part A, which covers skilled nursing facility services following a qualifying hospitalization. Therefore, Hilda would be entitled to a total of 100 days of coverage for her SNF stay, assuming no prior exhaustion of her benefit days.

Regarding the financial responsibilities, Hilda would be liable for deductibles and copayments as stipulated by Medicare policies. In 2021, the Part A deductible for the initial hospital stay was $1,484. This deductible must be paid once for each benefit period, which generally begins with a qualifying hospital stay and ends after 60 days without inpatient care. For her SNF stay, since she qualifies for full coverage, she initially pays this deductible during her hospital stay.

Once in the SNF, Medicare Part A covers the costs for days 1 through 20 fully, with no copayment required. Starting from day 21 through day 100, Hilda would be responsible for a daily copayment of $185.50. Therefore, for days 21 to 100, which constitute 80 days of her stay, she would incur copayments totaling 80 days × $185.50 = $14,840.

Summing up her potential out-of-pocket expenses: Hilda pays the initial $1,484 deductible, and if her stay extends beyond the initial 20 covered days, she pays $14,840 in copayments. It is also noteworthy that if her stay ends before 20 days, she would only pay the deductible. On the other hand, if her stay exceeds 100 days, her coverage would be exhausted, and she would need to make additional arrangements for ongoing care expenses.

In conclusion, Hilda is entitled to up to 100 days of SNF care under Medicare, provided she meets all eligibility criteria. Her financial obligations would include the $1,484 deductible and up to $14,840 in copayments, depending on the length of her stay beyond the initial 20 days. These financial considerations are essential for her planning and understanding her benefits and potential out-of-pocket costs.

References

  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). Medicare Benefit Policy Manual. https://www.cms.gov
  • Medicare.gov. (2021). Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Care. https://www.medicare.gov
  • Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). Medicare Spending and Benefits. https://www.kff.org
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  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2021). Medicare & You Handbook. https://www.medicare.gov/publications
  • Terras, A., & Pickard, A. (2020). Financial Aspects of Skilled Nursing Care. Health Economics Review, 10, 25.
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  • American Health Care Association. (2022). SNF Payment and Coverage Policies. https://www.ahcancal.org