What Medicare payment system is used for inpatient hospital services?

Asked by: Prof. Dena Gerlach Jr.  |  Last update: January 10, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (38 votes)

This payment system is referred to as the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS). Under the IPPS, each case is categorized into a diagnosis-related group (DRG). Each DRG has a payment weight assigned to it, based on the average resources used to treat Medicare patients in that DRG.

What system is used by Medicare to pay for inpatient care?

Hospitals contract with Medicare to deliver acute inpatient hospital care and agree to accept pre-determined acute care hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rates as full payment.

Which payment system is used for inpatient rehabilitation facilities?

CMS uses separate PPSs for reimbursement to acute inpatient hospitals, home health agencies, hospice, hospital outpatient, inpatient psychiatric facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities.

Which Medicare program provides coverage for inpatient hospital care?

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) - Part A helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, including critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care.

What Medicare covers inpatient hospital expenses?

In general, Medicare Part A helps pay for inpatient care you get in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care.

Medicare Update: 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System

32 related questions found

How does Medicare reimburse hospitals for inpatient stays?

Section 1886(d) of the Social Security Act (the Act) sets forth a system of payment for the operating costs of acute care hospital inpatient stays under Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) based on prospectively set rates. This payment system is referred to as the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS).

Which Medicare plan covers inpatient?

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.

Does Medicare cover 100% of hospital bills?

Whether you're new to Original Medicare or have been enrolled for some time, understanding the limitations of your coverage is important as you navigate decisions about your healthcare. One of the main reasons why Original Medicare doesn't cover 100% of your medical bills is because it operates on a cost-sharing model.

What is the Medicare code for inpatient?

Inpatient Hospital Visits: Initial and Subsequent (99221-99223) codes for hospital inpatient consultations. The new rule means that if codes from CPT Consultations subsection (99241-99255) are reported on a CMS-1500 claim (or UB-04 claim or via electronic data interchange), payment will be denied.

How many days will Medicare pay for a hospital stay?

Once you meet your deductible, Part A will pay for days 1–60 that you are in the hospital. For days 61–90, you will pay a coinsurance for each day. If you need to stay in the hospital for longer than 90 days, you can use up to 60 lifetime reserve days.

What is the 3 hour rule for inpatient rehab?

Generally, the therapy intensity requirement is met with 3 hours per day 5 days per week or 15 hours per week. The patient must receive a minimum of 15 hours per week of therapy services, unless documentation supports medical issues justifying a brief exception not to exceed three consecutive days.

What form is used for inpatient billing?

The UB-04 claim form is used to submit claims for inpatient hospital accommodations (for example, medical/surgical intensive care, burn care and coronary care) and ancillary charges (for example, labor and delivery, anesthesiology and central services and supplies).

Does Medicare cover rehab after a hospital stay?

Medicare covers inpatient rehab in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay that meets the 3-day rule. The 3-day rule for Medicare requires that you are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient for at least 3 days for rehab in a skilled nursing facility to be covered.

What are the 6 things Medicare doesn't cover?

Some of the items and services Medicare doesn't cover include:
  • Eye exams (for prescription eyeglasses)
  • Long-term care.
  • Cosmetic surgery.
  • Massage therapy.
  • Routine physical exams.
  • Hearing aids and exams for fitting them.

How often will Medicare pay for a hospital bed?

When a doctor deems it medically necessary, Medicare will cover hospital beds to use at home. Generally, Part B will cover 80% of the cost. Medigap and Medicare Advantage may pay more. There are times when a doctor may feel it is medically necessary for a person to use a hospital bed at home.

What are the pros and cons of the DRG system?

The advantages of the DRG payment system are reflected in the increased efficiency and transparency and reduced average length of stay. The disadvantage of DRG is creating financial incentives toward earlier hospital discharges.

Does Medicare Part B pay for inpatient services?

Part B pays

Your inpatient hospital stay and, for most hospitals, all related outpatient services provided during the 3 days before your admission date.

What codes are used for inpatient hospital systems?

The ICD-10-PCS coding system is a Procedural Coding System that is used only for inpatient procedures that take place in hospitals. This code set includes 130,000 alphanumeric codes that hospitals use for surgical procedures and equipment.

Is CMS 1500 used for inpatient?

When a physician has a private practice but performs services at an institutional facility such as a hospital or outpatient facility, the CMS-1500 form would be used to bill for their services. The UB-04 (CMS-1450) form is the claim form for institutional facilities such as hospitals or outpatient facilities.

How does Medicare pay for hospitals?

Hospitals are reimbursed through Medicare Part A for Medicare-related capital costs (e.g., depreciation, interest, rent, and property-related insurance and taxes costs). New hospitals are paid on a cost basis for their first 2 years of operation.

What are three services not covered by Medicare?

We don't cover these routine items and services: Routine or annual physical checkups (visit Medicare Wellness Visits to learn about exceptions). exams required by third parties, like insurance companies, businesses, or government agencies. Eye exams for prescribing, fitting, or changing eyeglasses.

What is the 3 day rule for Medicare?

Medicare's "Three-Day Window" rule ("Rule") requires that certain hospital outpatient services and services furnished by a Part B entity (e.g., physician, Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC)) that is "wholly owned or operated" by the hospital be included on the hospital's inpatient claim.

How many days does Medicare pay for a hospital stay?

After you meet your deductible, Original Medicare pays in full for days 1 to 60 that you are in a hospital. For days 61-90, you pay a daily coinsurance.

What is the 60 rule for inpatient rehab?

The 60% Rule is a Medicare facility criterion that requires each IRF to discharge at least 60 percent of its patients with one of 13 qualifying conditions.

How many hours is considered an inpatient stay?

An inpatient admission is generally appropriate when you're expected to need 2 or more midnights of medically necessary hospital care. But, your doctor must order such admission and the hospital must formally admit you in order for you to become an inpatient.