AHIP Practice Exam

How many days of inpatient psychiatric care will Medicare cover for Mr. Rainey?

1. 30 days during a single hospital stay.

2. 190 days throughout his lifetime.

3. A total of 365 days per year.

4. Unlimited coverage as long as he is hospitalized.

The correct answer is: 190 days throughout his lifetime.

Medicare provides coverage for inpatient psychiatric care under specific limitations. For Mr. Rainey, Medicare will cover up to 190 days of inpatient psychiatric care throughout his lifetime. This limitation is in place to ensure that the focus remains on necessary treatment while also managing resource allocation effectively. It’s important to note that this 190-day cap applies to all inpatient psychiatric services combined, meaning there’s a finite amount of days Medicare will support. Other healthcare benefits from Medicare may have different limits, but for inpatient psychiatric stays, this particular guideline underscores the importance of proper management and planning for long-term care needs. In this context, other options suggest different numbers of days, which do not align with the established Medicare regulations for psychiatric care. For instance, suggesting unlimited coverage or an annual limit overstates the support Medicare offers. Additionally, a figure like 30 days during a single hospital stay refers to Medicare coverage for general inpatient care, not specifically for psychiatric admissions, which is distinctly capped at 190 days for the lifetime of the patient.