Judge Rejects HHS' Call To Dismiss Lawsuit Over Medicare Observation Status Appeals

A federal district court judge rejected an HHS call for dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Medicare beneficiaries calling for a right to appeal placement in observation status during hospital care. The judge will allow the beneficiary advocates' case to proceed, but dismissed requests from both the advocates and HHS to make an immediate decision in the case. The judge disagreed with HHS' argument that the existing appeals process is enough because hospitals have an incentive to protect beneficiaries' interests...