WGU
Organizational Systems &Quality Leadership
KOT1
Lynnell Fulkerson
Healthcare Utilization and Finance
Medicare
A1. Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A covers medically necessary services and supplies including hospitalization
and skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Mrs. Zwick spent five inpatient days in the hospital and
40 days in a SNF. Medicare Part A will cover 100% of the first 60 days of Mrs. Zwick’s hospital
stay after she pays the $1,184 deductible. Because Mrs. Zwick spent at least three days as an
inpatient in the hospital, and assuming that the skilled nursing facility Mrs. Zwick
is admitted to is Medicare certified, Medicare Part A will pay for 100% of her …show more content…
Zwick
would not have had a UTI and her rehabilitation would have continued as expected and she
would have been discharged in the expected 21 day time frame. The infection caused her to be
weak and unable to participate in rehab setting her back and nullifying much of the progress she
had previously made. Beyond that, the SNF could not bill Medicare for the cost incurred from
the UTI. As I previously stated the cost would need to be absorbed by the SNF. In reality the
cost are absorbed by other consumers in the form of increased out-of-pocket costs such as co-
pays.
The scenario also discussed Mrs. Zwick and her daughter was not made aware the UTI was
considered to be a hospital-acquired infection. It is the responsibility of the facility to be
transparent and take responsibility for the HAI that caused a delay in Mrs. Zwick’s recovery.
Although it was not addressed in the scenario Mrs. Zwick may need to continue taking
antibiotics after discharge and the cost of that medication would not be covered by Medicare.
C. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows workers and their
beneficiaries who lose their health coverage to remain insured for a limited amount of time after
the loss of coverage (Health Plans & Benefits - Continuation of Health Coverage — COBRA,
2012). Mr. Davis lost his job due to