HospitalInspections.org

Based on interview and document review, the hospital failed to inform patients of their rights under Medicare with the Important Message from Medicare (IMM) for 3 of 3 patients (P4, P7, P8) reviewed who had Medicare coverage.

Findings include:

P4 was admitted to the hospital on 11/23/21. P4's diagnoses included psychosis. A review of P4's insurance data revealed P4 had Medicare as a payer source. The IMM was not in R4's medical record.

P7 was admitted on 12/8/2021. P7's diagnoses included decompression of spinal cord. A review of P7's insurance data revealed P7 had Medicare as a payer source. The IMM was not in R7's medical record.

P8 was admitted to the hospital on 12/9/2021. P8's diagnoses included pneumonia. A review of P8's insurance data revealed P8 had Medicare as a payer source. The IMM was not in R8's medical record.

The Process Change document revised 4/14/21, and provided by facility staff as the procedure related to the Medicare IMM was reviewed. Under the section PROCESS: On Admission: within 24 hours of the patient being admitted on the unit the health unit coordinator (HUC) will...have the patient sign and date the IMM form. On discharge, within 24 to 48 hours of discharge, the HUC will ask the patient to sign the IMM form.