Inpatient Law and Legal Definition
Pursuant to 42 CFR 440.2 (Title 42, Public Health; Chapter Iv, Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services; Department Of Health And Human Services; Subchapter C, Medical Assistance Programs Part 440, Services; General Provisions; Subpart A, Definitions ) the term Inpatient means “a patient who has been admitted to a medical institution as an inpatient on recommendation of a physician or dentist and who (1) Receives room, board and professional services in the institution for a 24 hour period or longer, or (2) Is expected by the institution to receive room, board and professional services in the institution for a 24 hour period or longer even though it later develops that the patient dies, is discharged or is transferred to another facility and does not actually stay in the institution for 24 hours.”
