HospitalInspections.org

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Based on medical record (MR) review, document review, and interview, in five (5) of thirteen medical records reviewed, the facility failed to provide patients or their representatives with the "Important Message from Medicare (IM or IMM)" upon admission. This was evident for Patient #s 3, 4, 5, 9 and 13.

Findings:

Review of the facility's policy titled "Discharge of Inpatients" last revised 02/17, states: "the staff member explains the Message to the patient/representative, requests the patient to sign and date the form that he/she received it, and provides the patient/representative with a copy of the form."

According to regulation at 42 CFR 489.27 (a), each Medicare beneficiary who is an inpatient (or his/her representative) must be provided the standardized notice titled, "Important Message from Medicare (IM)" within two (2) days of admission.

Review of medical record for Patients #3 identified a 91 year-old Medicare beneficiary who was admitted on 03/12/018. There was no documented evidence that the patient/representative was furnished with the IM notice, eight (8) days after the patient's admission.

Patient #4 is a 78 year-old Medicare beneficiary admitted on 03/06/2018. On 3/23/18, during the review of the patient's record, the IM notice had not been acknowledged by the patient or her representative 14 days after her admission.

Similar findings were noted for Medicare recipients, Patient #s 5, 9, and 13, who were not furnished with an IM notice within 48 hours of their admission.

Findings were confirmed by Staff A, Nurse Manager 8 East, and Staff B Nurse Manager 10 West during interviews conducted on 3/20/18 at approximately 11:35 AM.