Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON)

CMS Releases Updated Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON)

MOON
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released its updated version of the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON).  The MOON is a standardized notice to inform beneficiaries (including Medicare health plan enrollees) that they are an outpatient receiving observation services and are not an inpatient of the hospital or (CAH).
The MOON is mandated by the Federal Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility Act (NOTICE Act), passed on August 6, 2015.  The NOTICE Act requires hospitals and CAHs to provide notification to individuals receiving observation services as outpatients for more than 24 hours explaining the status of the individual as an outpatient, not an inpatient, and the implications of such status.
  • Hospitals and CAHs are required to furnish the MOON to a Medicare beneficiary who has been receiving observation services as an outpatient for more than 24 hours. Under the final rule, hospitals and CAHs may deliver the MOON to individuals receiving observation services as an outpatient before such individuals have received more than 24 hours of observation services.  The notice must be provided no later than 36 hours after observation services are initiated or, if sooner, upon release.
  • An oral explanation of the MOON must be provided, ideally in conjunction with the delivery of the notice, and a signature must be obtained from the individual, or a person acting on such individual’s behalf, to acknowledge receipt.  In cases where such individual or person refuses to sign the MOON, the staff member of the hospital or CAH providing the notice must sign the notice to certify that notification was presented.
The MOON will inform more than one million beneficiaries annually of the reason(s) they are an outpatient receiving observation services and the implications of such status with regard to Medicare cost sharing and coverage for post-hospitalization skilled nursing facility (SNF) services.
Hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) are required to provide the MOON beginning no later than March 8, 2017.

Friday, February 24, 2017

SHINE Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone

>>Click HERE to download pdf or Printable Version of SHINE Brochure>>

For more information, meet with a SHINE counselor. To make an appointment with the SHINE counselor here, please contact Sheila or Sandra at 978-531-2254. You may also call the Regional SHINE office at Mystic Valley Elder Services at 781-388-4845.


Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Drug Rehab.com Seniors & Addiction

DrugRehab.com, a free web resource that provides information and support to people fighting substance abuse and related mental health issues.

Older adults abuse drugs and suffer from addiction at rates similar to teens and young adults. As the baby boomer generation continues to age, the demand for addiction treatment for older adults will continue to grow.

>>Click here to link to DrugRehab.com for more info on Seniors & Addiction>>



Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Eyewear for Patients with MassHealth

>> Click on image for more information about eyewear >>



http://www.banvilleoptical.com/

Address

88 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970

Get in Touch

Tel: (978) 745-2774
Fax: (978) 745-9317

Office Hours

Sunday – Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 9:00AM – 4:00PM
Saturday: 9:00AM – 2:00PM



http://www.theeyeplacepeabody.com/




http://mrspecs.com/



Thursday, January 26, 2017

Spotlight On: Senior Independence Video | NCOA

Older adults across the country are living on fixed incomes, and worry about how they are going to make ends meet every month. There are programs that can help increase their budget to pay for health care, food, and housing, but often they don’t know about the program or how to apply. This video explains some of the programs, and how people can use NCOA’s free, confidential website – BenefitsCheckUp.org – to find out an individual or a loved one qualifies.