UGH!!

Back at the hospital this week. (See Tip # 601)

In the interests of time (30 Second limit), we’ll ignore for now Patient had complications requiring another surgery and only in medicine do we pay for do-overs!

Along as an observer again, it just gave me more opportunities to see the ‘bean counters’ in action. Consider:

Patient was told at 8:30 Tuesday morning she would be going home. By 10:30 she was unplugged from all the sensors, dressed and ready to leave.

At Noon, upon inquiring what was holding things up, she learned that the doctor still hadn’t signed some paperwork.

Pushing 1:30, Mr. Snark wondered aloud (listen up, Staff), if ‘we’ might now be paying for another day of In-Patient Room charges. 

Is it Noon or Midnight when the clock re-sets?

Based on how quickly those papers arrived, I think I know. 

BTW, Patient was admitted at 5:30 PM Saturday. Was that a full or pro-rated day? Still planning on getting an itemized bill, so we’ll see.

Tip 605-A (to my Insurer Friends): Do you require In-Patient claims submissions include admission/discharge times?

‘Overnight’ (pun intended) the average length of hospital stays might plummet!

You’re welcome.