Pennsylvania Statutes Title 40 P.S. Insurance § 3053. Patient notice of observation services

(1) The patient receives onsite services from the hospital for more than 23 consecutive hours.

(2) The onsite services received by the patient include a hospital bed and meals that have been provided in an area of the hospital other than the hospital emergency room.

(3) The patient has not been formally admitted as an inpatient at the hospital.

(1) outpatient observation status may impact coverage determinations made by the Federal Medicare Program or the patient's insurance company for hospital and posthospital payments;

(2) final decisions related to outpatient observation status can be made after a patient is no longer a patient at the hospital and after a patient has received hospital services or other services; and

(3) a patient should contact Medicare, Medicaid or any other insurance provider if the patient has specific questions about the coverage.

(1) by written notice; and

(2) by oral notice, which must include a summary of the notice provided under paragraph (1) or, at the request of the patient, the notice provided under paragraph (1).