OAR 410-125-0410: Readmission

(1) A patient whose readmission for surgery or follow-up care is planned at the time of discharge must be placed on leave of absence status, and both admissions must be combined into a single billing. The Division of Medical Assistance Programs (Division) will make one payment for the combined service. Examples of planned readmissions include, but are not limited to, situations where surgery could not be scheduled immediately, a specific surgical team was not available, bilateral surgery was planned, or when further treatment is indicated following diagnostic tests but cannot begin immediately. (2) A patient whose discharge and readmission to the hospital is within thirty (30) days for the same or related diagnosis must be combined into a single billing. Division shall make one payment for the amount appropriate for the combined service. (3) This rule does not apply to: (a) Readmissions for an unrelated diagnosis; (b) Readmissions occurring more than 30 days after the date of discharge; (c) Readmissions for a diagnosis that may require episodic (a series) acute care hospitalizations to stabilize the medical condition such as, but not limited to: diabetes, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. See billing instructions in the Hospital Supplemental guide on the Division’s website for additional information.