It is long past time for Medicare to clarify this issue, and it could even end up saving the program money since ongoing therapy might keep a patientoutof the hospital.
To address the issue ofpatient dehydration, the hospital has installed prominent information boards on wards and carries out greater monitoring of patient's fluid intake and output.
ACOs and other entities like patient-centered medical homes take responsibility for keeping patients outof the hospital and emergency room and help patients manage their conditions by getting them to take their medications appropriately and coming back for needed appointments.
Dr. RUTH BERGGREN (Associate Professor, Adult Infectious Diseases, Tulane Medical Center and Charity Hospital): Sitting in the HIV out-patient clinic, taking care of an uninsured man who's coughing, I cannot get a smear on him to diagnose tuberculosis in the city of New Orleans.