POA when status changes
The coders and I are struggling with a POA question especially with all of the MA plans we now deal with. How do you deal with POA when the patient starts as observation but then something develops to change the patient to inpatient but since it is insurance or MA plan our UR department rolls the admit date back to when the patient walked in the door. Here is an example, patient placed in observation on 8/13 for weakness and is basically a social admit for placement. Then on 8/15 patient aspirates and we start treating aspiration pneumonia. Doctor writes order for inpatient. UR makes the admission date 8/13. Technically the pneumonia is the reason for the inpatient but the date goes back 2 days before the aspiration event. Help! if you have a source that explains please share especially is you have anything that would help me with a discussion with the UR department.