A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine highlights that the Medicare ‘three-day rule’ is causing unnecessary hospital stays for seniors. Established in 1965, the rule mandates a minimum three-day hospital stay before Medicare covers skilled nursing facility care. Researchers found that this outdated policy leads to longer hospital stays without improving patient outcomes, increasing risks like infections and bed sores. The rule was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing researchers to compare hospital stay durations before and after its reinstatement. Findings indicated that the average hospital stay increased by 1.5 days due to the rule. Despite multiple attempts by Congress to repeal the rule, concerns about potential increases in Medicare spending have stalled reforms, affecting millions of beneficiaries nationwide.
