This variable is the count of Medicare covered days in the hospice setting for a given year. This variable equals the sum of the CLM_UTLZTN_DAY_CNT variables on the source claims.
Comments
We consider fully-covered days, days where the beneficiary was liable for coinsurance, and lifetime reserve days to all be Medicare-covered days. Non-covered days, leave of absence days, and the day of discharge or death are not included.
Medicare payments are described in detail in a series of Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) documents called “Payment Basics” (see: http://www.medpac.gov/-documents-/payment-basics).
We consider fully-covered days, days where the beneficiary was liable for coinsurance, and lifetime reserve days to all be Medicare-covered days. Non-covered days, leave of absence days, and the day of discharge or death are not included.
Medicare payments are described in detail in a series of Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) documents called “Payment Basics” (see: http://www.medpac.gov/-documents-/payment-basics).
Also in the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) “Payment System Fact Sheet Series” (see the list of MLN publications at: http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-andEducation/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/MLN- Publications.html)
Source: CCW (derived)