Medicare 48 hour rule: the answers.

Medicare 48 hour rule: the answers.

Joe Sansone

6/13/2002

In response to my post about O&P providers dispensing products at a hospital
within 48 hours of a patients discharge date, please note the following:

In previous DMERC Medicare Advisorys, Medicare states that a provider can
bill Medicare for products delivered within 48 hours of a patients discharge
date. Medicare has recently stated that this holds true, but now adds the
disclaimer that the product cannot be used in the hospital.
                 In some cases it may be appropriate for DMEPOS suppliers
to deliver medically necessary equipment to a facility that does not qualify
as the patient's home, up to two days prior to discharge (to a place that
does qualify as a home) for the benefit of the patient for purposes of
fitting or training of the patient on its use. However, the equipment must
be for subsequent use in the beneficiary's home and no billing may be made
for this equipment for days used prior to the date of the patient's
discharge from the facility to the home.


Thank you to all that offered their assistance.

Joe Sansone
C.E.O
TMC Orthopedic
www.tmcortho.com < <URL Redacted> >