Council on Aging Answers 2017 - 20

COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SKILLED NURSING - SUPPORT GROUP

HEALTHCARE

SKILLED NURSING

TOWN & COUNTRY MANOR
555 E. Memory Lane
Santa Ana CA 92706
(714) 243-8703
www.tcmanor.com
Receive a comprehensive approach
to your medical needs at our Skilled
Nursing and Rehabilitation center. As a
non-profit organization, we are able to
put profits back into our community
and make patient care our priority.
Lic# 300600977

SUPPORT GROUP

VILLA VALENCIA
FIVE STAR SENIOR LIVING
24552 Paseo De Valencia
Laguna Hills CA 92653
(949) 581-6111 (949) 837-2390
www.villavalenciaretirement.com
We provide Independent and Assisted
Living as well as Skilled Nursing in
a resort-like setting. Conveniently
located on 8.5 acres in the heart of
Laguna Hills. Close to healthcare,
restaurants and shopping. We
are passionate about helping our
residents enjoy the lifestyle they want
and deserve.
Lic# 306004520

New Law Involves
Family Caregivers in
Discharge Planning
A new California law requiring hospitals to involve
caregivers in discharge planning became effective
January 1, 2016. Existing state law and Medicare
rules require hospitals to arrange for appropriate
post-hospital care for patients "who are likely to suffer
adverse health consequences upon discharge if there is
no adequate discharge planning."
This law, SB 675, mandates hospitals to give patients
an opportunity to identify a family caregiver, notify
the caregiver when the patient is to be discharged, and
inform and instruct the caregiver about care that the
patient needs after discharge.
This opportunity to engage in the discharge
planning process allows the patient and family
caregiver to have a say in when the patient would be
discharged. In the Medicare program, beneficiaries
have the right to appeal the hospital's discharge
decision. Many beneficiaries request a later date of
discharge and, if the hospital does not agree, exercise
the right to appeal. Information about a Medicare
beneficiary's right to appeal a hospital discharge is in
the notice "An Important Message From Medicare
About Your Rights," given to Medicare patients
within 2 days of admission.
20

Answers Guide 2017

BUSINESS LISTINGS

HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE SOCIETY
OF AMERICA - ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER
P.O. Box 28613
Santa Ana CA 92799
(714) 290-3825
www.hdsa.org/oc

Aging and growing old are
not necessarily the same.
The new law applies to patients who have been
admitted to the hospital as an inpatient. Many people
receive outpatient services in a hospital and may
not be admitted as an inpatient even if they stay
overnight. In the Medicare program, a beneficiary's
status as inpatient or outpatient affects how services
are paid, which affects a beneficiary's payment
liability. Furthermore, if a beneficiary needs care in a
skilled nursing facility (SNF) after leaving the hospital,
Medicare pays for the SNF stay only if the beneficiary
had been admitted as an inpatient and stayed in the
hospital for at least 3 consecutive days, but not if the
beneficiary was an outpatient.
A prior inpatient hospital stay is one criterion
for Medicare to cover subsequent SNF care and
affects beneficiaries who have Original Medicare.
Beneficiaries in a Medicare Advantage plan may have
different rules; many Medicare Advantage plans cover
SNF care without requiring a prior hospital stay.
SB 675 affords patients and their family caregivers
an opportunity to participate in the discharge
planning process and receive information and
instruction on care the patient may need after
discharge. Patients and family caregivers should take
advantage of this opportunity to have a say in when
the patient is discharged.
For additional information contact HICAP at the
Council on Aging - Southern California at 800-4340222 or visit California Health Advocates at www.
californiahealthadvocates.org
Reprinted from California HealthAdvocates.org

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http://www.hdsa.org/oc http://www.villavalenciaretirement.com http://www.tcmanor.com http://www.californiahealthadvocates.org http://www.californiahealthadvocates.org http://www.HealthAdvocates.org

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