1. What they will mean for your clients New Observation Status Rules

2. Observation Status A patient on observation status is considered an outpatient and Medicare Part B cost-sharing rules apply to the medical tests, treatments and drugs Time on observation status won’t be counted toward Medicare’s three-night’s stay requirement to cover care at a skilled nursing facility after discharge.

3. NOTICE Act Applies to patients who have been hospitalized and classified as an outpatient for 24 hours. After being an outpatient for 24 hours, the hospital has 12 hours to give them notice. – Verbally and in writing

4. Timeline Given observation status designation by doctor. 24 hours as an outpatient on observation status 36 hours Hospitals must have given written and verbal notice within this time frame Consider this hour one

5. The Written Notice Written notice must explain cost-sharing rules for outpatient services And explain that being on observation status does not count toward three-day inpatient minimum for Medicare to cover costs of care at a skilled nursing facility

7. Be an Advocate You: – educate your clients about the new law Patients/their family: – ask about their status when in the hospital

8. For More Information Observation Status tip sheet Center for Medicare Advocacy

9. Senate Bill 2332 and House Bill 4526 Licensed Clinical Social Worker Medicaid Billing

10. Background In 2007, Illinois General Assembly passed a law that gave Licensed Clinical Social Workers the ability to bill Medicaid. But never created rules to implement the law

11. Senate Bill 2332 & House Bill 4526 Proposed legislation would require the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to make rules to implement law

12. Be an Advocate The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Illinois chapter is leading advocacy for this bill. http://www.naswil.org/advocacy/advocacy- alerts/

13. How it could impact clients receiving home services New Department of Labor Overtime Rule

14. Background New Department of Labor regulations extend overtime protections to home care workers. State is saying that it can’t pay for the overtime pay – capping the number of hours at 35, with 5 hours of additional travel time

15. Status Ongoing negotiations between the State and SEIU representing the PAs

16. Be an Advocate Looking for stories of consumers who could be impacted Advise clients to get DON score and keep on file