NEWBORN 9 DAYS OF AGE OR LESS
All newborns 9 days old or less are admitted for statistical purposes. However, only newborns with an acute qualification status attract health insurance benefits and count towards Medicare patient days. Note that all newborns 10 days old or more who require clinical care/treatment are classified as admitted patients.
Single live birth or first born of a multiple birth:
- If in ICN/SCN, qualification status is Acute, regardless of status of the mother.
- If not in ICN/SCN, regardless of need for clinical care/treatment:
- If mother admitted to the same hospital, qualification status is Unqualified.
- If mother and baby are admitted/transferred to separate hospitals, qualification status is Acute.
- If mother is discharged from hospital, qualification status is Acute.
- If mother is not admitted to hospital, qualification status is Acute.
- If mother is a boarder at the same hospital, qualification status is Acute.
Second or subsequent live birth of a multiple birth:
- Qualification status is Acute, regardless of status or mother or baby.
NEWBORN 10 DAYS OF AGE OR MORE
All newborns 10 days of age or more that require clinical care/treatment require admission. This includes new admission and care type changes.
Baby requires clinical care/treatment, inside or outside ICN/SCN:
- If qualification status was Acute before day 10, remains an admitted patient and qualification status is Acute until separated or care type changes, regardless of status of the mother.
- If qualification status was Unqualified before day 10, remains an admitted patient and qualification status is changed to Acute from day 10 until separated or care type changes, regardless of status of the mother.
Baby does not require clinical care/treatment:
- Admit as Boarder.
Examples include:
- If the mother is admitted/transferred for clinical care/treatment.
- If baby is for adoption and the mother is not in hospital.
- If the mother/carer is in the same hospital.