Readmission Policy
Effective Date: January 1, 2018
Purpose:
This policy provides reimbursement guidelines on readmissions to acute care hospitals occurring less than thirty one (31) calendar days from date of discharge.
Scope:
Products included:
• NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid
Definitions:
- Acute care facility: An acute, general, short-term hospital
- Index hospitalization: The initial hospitalization at an acute care facility (hospital) where the discharge date occurred less than thirty one (31) days prior to the admission of the readmission hospitalization
- NOA: Notice of Admission
- Premature Discharge of Patient That Results in Subsequent Readmission of Patient to Same Hospital: Occurs when a patient is discharged even though he/she should have remained in the acute care facility for further testing or treatment, or was not medically stable at the time of discharge. A patient is not medically stable when, in Horizon’s judgment, the patient's condition is such that it is medically unsound to discharge or transfer the patient. Evidence such as elevated temperature, postoperative wound draining or bleeding, or abnormal laboratory studies on the day of discharge indicate that a patient may have been prematurely discharged from the acute care facility
- Prospective/Concurrent Review or “CCR”: A request for coverage of medical care or services made while a member is in the process of receiving the requested medical care or services
- Readmission hospitalization: A hospitalization at an acute care facility (hospital) whose admission occurred less than 31 days after the Index hospitalization’s discharge date
- Retrospective Review: A request for coverage of medical care or services after a member has received the requested medical care or services
- Readmission of Patient to Hospital for Care That Could Have Been Provided During First Admission: This prohibited action occurs when a patient is readmitted to an acute care facility for care that, pursuant to professionally recognized standards of health care, could have been provided during the first admission. This action does not include circumstances in which it is not medically appropriate to provide the care during the first admission
- Same day: Midnight to midnight of a single day
- Same or similar condition or diagnoses: A condition or diagnosis which is the same or similar when compared between the Index hospitalization and readmission hospitalization
- Same, similar or related reason: When the reason for readmission is for the same, similar or related condition as the index hospitalization
Policy:
Horizon NJ Health created this policy to align itself with CMS’ Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) program and the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) Medical Cost Management Effectiveness requirements. Readmissions to acute care hospitals occurring less than thirty one (31) calendar days from date of discharge are considered a quality of care issue and readmissions will be reviewed as such. Neither the day of discharge nor the day of admission is counted when determining whether a readmission has occurred.
Horizon NJ Health will review a Readmission hospitalization to determine:
- That it was medically necessary
- That it was not a result of premature discharge of the patient from the same hospital
- That it did not result due to a lack of coordination in the transition of care between the acute care facility and the outpatient setting, OR
- If the care rendered on readmission could have been provided during the first initial admission
Reviews for readmission may be conducted prospectively, concurrently or retrospectively: Prospective/Concurrent Review:
- For each Readmission hospitalization, the Notifications of Admissions (NOA) and/or clinical information provided for CCR will be reviewed for a Readmission hospitalization if:
- Index hospitalization discharge occurs less than 31 calendar days from Readmission hospitalization; AND
- Discharge is from the same facility
- If the Readmission hospitalization in question is deemed reviewable per 4.D.a., the CCR nurse:
- Will review the Readmission hospitalization notes available and compare against the Index hospitalization notes in the medical management system for:
- Premature Discharge of Patient That Results in Subsequent Readmission of Patient to Same Hospital;
- Readmission of Patient to Hospital for Care That Could Have Been Provided During First Admission; or
- Lack of coordination of care during the discharge transition.
- In reviewing the Readmission hospitalization and Index hospitalization notes, the CCR nurse will investigate for:
- Same or similar condition or diagnoses;
- Same, similar or related reason;
- Planned readmission; or
- Complication due to care, such as surgery, performed during Index hospitalization.
- Excluded from readmission review:
- Discharge from Index hospitalization was against medical advice (AMA);
- Readmission that is planned for repetitive treatments (for example, cancer chemotherapy);
- Readmission is for scheduled elective surgery;
- Sickle Cell Crisis; and
- Maternity readmission.
- With the available information, the CCR nurse will either:
- Determine whether the Readmission hospitalization meets the criteria in § 4.D. and review the Readmission hospitalization for medical necessity as per normal CCR process (Concurrent Review Policy, 31C.522); or
- Where the Readmission hospitalization meets the criteria as noted in §4.D, the CCR nurse will refer the Readmission hospitalization to the Horizon Medical Director for review.
- The Horizon Medical Director will make final determination regarding the Readmission hospitalization.
- If it is determined that the Readmission hospitalization meets the criteria in §4.D., the denial will be issued as a Readmission hospitalization denial.
- As a result of the denial, reimbursement for Readmission hospitalization will be combined with the Index hospitalization and the first payment will be considered payment in full for the two hospitalizations.
- Excluded from readmission review:
Retrospective Review:
- Medical records for both admissions will be requested and reviewed to determine if the Readmission hospitalization meets the criteria in §4.D.
- Failure of the provider to provide complete medical records from the Index hospitalization and Readmission hospitalization may result in denial of claims payment.
- When it is determined that the Readmission hospitalization met the criteria in §4.D, or was not medically necessary, the reimbursement for Readmission hospitalization will be combined with the index hospitalization and the first payment will be considered payment in full for the two hospitalizations.
Providers may appeal the denial of readmission (peer-to-peer and/or formal appeal) via the appeal process.
For frequently asked questions around the readmission policy, click here.
Resources:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/hospital/resource/guide/index.htmlCMS Medicare Claims Process Manual; Chapter 3 - Inpatient Hospital Billing
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/clm104c03.pdfLimitations and Exclusions:
While reimbursement is considered, payment determination is subject to, but not limited to:- Benefit Limitations
- The terms of any applicable provider participation agreement;
- Routine claim editing logic, including but not limited to incidental or mutually exclusive logic;
- Medical necessity; and
- Applicable law, regulatory guidance, government mandates, and the terms of the Managed Care Contract between Horizon NJ Health and the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services.
- Will review the Readmission hospitalization notes available and compare against the Index hospitalization notes in the medical management system for: