Preparing for the New Medicare Reimbursement Guidelines: Part I--When Are Pressure Ulcers in the Hospital Avoidable?

Dr. Levine is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, and Attending Physician in the Geriatrics Section, St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center, New York, NY.
This is Part I of a two-part series on pressure ulcers and Medicare reimbursement. Part II will discuss documentation of altered skin integrity and will appear in the next issue of the Journal.
 
Introduction
Medicare recently announced that as of October 2008 it will no longer reimburse hospitals and nursing homes for preventable complications; included in this list of co...