Which rule states that hospitals receive a graduated per diem rate during a patient’s hospitalization?

The correct answer is the IPPS Transfer rule. This rule outlines the reimbursement for hospitals under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) when a patient is discharged and transferred to another healthcare facility. Under this system, hospitals are not paid a full per diem rate for patients who are transferred, but rather, they receive a graduated per diem rate based on the number of days the patient was in the facility. This means that the reimbursement amount decreases as the length of stay increases, reflecting the intention to incentivize timely patient care and efficient resource use.

Understanding this rule is key for healthcare administrators and coders, as it directly impacts the financial operations of hospitals and their strategies regarding patient transfers. In contrast, the other options pertain to different aspects of healthcare data and reimbursement that do not specifically address the graduated per diem payment structure for transferred patients. For example, the POA Indicator relates to the identification of conditions present on admission, the MS-DRG pertains to the classification of inpatient cases for payment levels based on diagnosis-related groups, and OASIS is related to home health agencies and quality assessment.