Peterson Health’s Clinical Decision Unit was created to better serve the needs of our patients placed in observation. This occurs when a doctor has reviewed your medical condition and decides to place you in the hospital as an outpatient or “observations patients”. Being in observation may affect what you pay in the hospital.

• When you’re a hospital outpatient, your observation stay is covered under Medicare Part B.
• Generally, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, including “self-administered drugs, you get in a hospital outpatient setting (like an emergency department) aren’t covered by Part B. For safety reason, many hospitals don’t allow you to take medications brought from home. If you have a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D), your plan may help you pay for these drugs. You’ll likely need to pay out-of-pocket for these drugs and submit a claim to your drug plan for refund. Contact your drug plan for more information.
• We also want you to be aware that an outpatient observation stay does not qualify you for Medicare skilled nursing benefits.

For concerns with the CMS (Medicare) policy you can call 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.