If you believe that you are being discharged from a hospital too early, you can appeal to hospital discharge. You can contact the Beneficiary and Family-Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO) for an immediate review of your case.

You may be able to stay in the hospital while the review lasts because the hospital cannot force you to leave before the BFCC-QIO’s decision.

Suppose Medicare covers your hospital services. In that case, you should receive a notice called the Important Message from Medicare during your hospital stay, which lists the BFCC-QIO’s contact information. This notice also explains your rights, such as:

• The right to get all medically necessary services at the hospital
• The right to be involved in any decisions about your hospital treatment
• The right to get the services you need once you are discharged from the hospital
• The right to appeal a discharge decision
• The steps for appealing the decision

You may also have the right to ask for a fast appeal if you believe that your hospital services are ending too soon. However, it would help if you asked for a fast appeal no later than the day you are scheduled to leave the hospital. This allows you to stay in the hospital while you wait for the BFCC-QIO’s decision. You will only have to pay for applicable coinsurance or deductibles past the hospital’s original day to discharge you.