Minnesota Administrative Rules

5221.6400 INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION PARAMETERS.

Subpart 1.

General principles.

A.

The health care provider must provide prior notification of inpatient hospital admission for nonemergency care according to part 5221.6050, subpart 9. Hospitalization is characterized as inpatient if the patient spends at least one night in the hospital.

B.

Treatment for emergency conditions, including incapacitating pain, should not be delayed to provide the insurer with prior notification. The admitting health care provider should notify the insurer within two business days following an emergency admission, or within two business days after the health care provider learns that it is a workers' compensation injury. The medical necessity for the emergency hospitalization is subject to retrospective review, based on the information available at the time of the emergency hospitalization.

C.

Unless the patient's condition requires special care, only ward or semiprivate accommodations are indicated. The admitting health care provider must document the special care needs.

D.

Admissions before the day of surgery are indicated only if they are medically necessary to stabilize the patient before surgery. Admission before the day of surgery to perform any or all of a preoperative work-up which could have been completed as an outpatient is not indicated.

E.

Inpatient hospitalization solely for physical therapy, bedrest, or administration of injectable drugs is indicated only if the treatment is otherwise indicated and the patient's condition makes the patient unable to perform the activities of daily life and participate in the patient's own treatment and self-care.

F.

Discharge from the hospital must be at the earliest possible date consistent with proper health care.

G.

If transfer to a convalescent center or nursing home is indicated, prior notification is required as provided for inpatient hospitalization.

Subp. 2.

Specific requirements for hospital admission of patients with low back pain.

Hospitalization for low back pain is indicated in the circumstances in items A to D.

A.

When the patient experiences incapacitating pain as evidenced by inability to mobilize for activities of daily living, for example unable to ambulate to the bathroom, and in addition, the intensity of service during admission meets the criteria in subitems (1) and (2).

(1)

Physical therapy is necessary at least twice daily for assistance with mobility. Heat, cold, ultrasound, and massage therapy alone do not meet this criterion.

(2)

Muscle relaxants or narcotic analgesics are necessary intramuscularly or intravenously for a minimum of three injections in 24 hours. Need for parenteral analgesics is determined by:

(a)

an inability to take oral medications or diet (N.P.O.); or

(b)

an inability to achieve relief with aggressive oral analgesics.

B.

For surgery which is otherwise indicated according to part 5221.6500 and is appropriately scheduled as an inpatient procedure.

C.

For evaluation and treatment of cauda equina syndrome, according to part 5221.6200, subpart 13.

D.

For evaluation and treatment of foot drop or progressive neurologic deficit, according to part 5221.6200, subpart 13.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 176.103; 176.83

History:

19 SR 1412

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008