Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Section 1181.56a - Limitations on payment for reserved beds-statement of policy(a)Interpretation. The Department interprets § 1181.56 (relating to limitations on payments for reserved beds) to mean that for each continuous 24-hour period the patient is absent from the facility, the nursing home should bill the Department for a hospital or therapeutic leave day, under the limitations set forth in this chapter. Furthermore, when the cycle-continuous 24-hour period-is broken, the home will bill the Department for a facility day.(b)Discussion. The Department has seen evidence that some nursing homes are not following the interpretation set forth in subsection (a) of how to bill for reserved days. The following examples should serve as guidelines to help nursing homes bill for reserved days properly.(1)Example 1. A nursing home resident leaves the facility May 4, 1987 at 2:30 p.m. and returns to the facility May 5, 1987 at 10:30 a.m. May 4, 1987 should be billed as a facility day and May 5, 1987 should also be billed as a facility day because the patient was not absent from the facility for a continuous 24-hour period.(2)Example 2. A nursing home resident leaves the facility on May 4, 1987 at 11 a.m. and returns to the facility May 5, 1987 at 1 p.m. May 4, 1987 should be billed as a reserve bed day and May 5, 1987 should be billed as a facility day. The patient was absent from the facility for a continuous 24-hour period from May 4, 1987 at 11 a.m. to May 5, 1987 at 11 a.m.(3)Example 3. A nursing home resident leaves the facility on May 4, 1987 at 9 a.m. and returns to the facility May 11, 1987 at 12 noon. May 4, 1987 through May 10, 1987 should be billed as reserve bed days. May 11, 1987 should be billed as a facility day.(4)Example 4. A nursing home resident leaves the facility May 1, 1987 at 10 a.m. and returns to the facility May 16, 1987 at 1 p.m. May 1, 1987 through May 15, 1987 should be billed as reserve bed days and May 16, 1987 should be billed as a facility day.The provisions of this § 1181.56a adopted February 5, 1988, effective 2/12/1988, 18 Pa.B. 596. This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 1181.52 (relating to payment conditions).