US Sen. Brown offers bill to protect Medicare recipients from higher medical costs

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Sherrod Brown was in town to tout a bipartisan plan that would change a little-known Medicare rule that causes seniors to be unexpectedly hit with large costs for necessary post-acute medical care.

Brown, D-Avon, speaking today at St. Elizabeth Health Center, said that under current Medicare policy, enacted Oct. 1, 2013, a beneficiary must have an “inpatient” hospital stay of at least three days in order for Medicare to cover post-hospitalization skilled-nursing care.

Patients that receive hospital care on “observation status” do not qualify for this benefit, even if their hospital stay lasts longer than three days. They can also be billed by the hospital for the difference in reimbursement it receives for inpatients and those on observation status.

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