NOTICE Act receives full Senate approval

The NOTICE  (Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility) Act will give hospitals a 36-hour time frame to notify Medicare beneficiaries of their outpatient status, which affects a Medicare patient’s ability to receive post-acute care in a skilled nursing facility.

The bill was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives on March 16, and the Senate Finance Committee approved the bill on June 25.

With the full Senate passage on the act, the NOTICE legislation will be sent to the President to be signed into law.

“[This legislation] means that millions of individuals who leave a hospital, preparing for a short stay in a skilled nursing center, will now know what their hospital status is, which could save them thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs,” says Clifton J. Porter II, AHCA/NCAL senior vice president of government relations.

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.