The notice you should get
When you're admitted as an inpatient, the hospital must give you "An Important Message from Medicare about Your Rights" within 2 days of admission, and again before you leave. It explains your right to appeal and how to reach the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization (BFCC-QIO). For Ohio and the rest of Medicare Region 5, that's Commence Health. Keep the notice; it has the details you'll need.
How to ask for a fast appeal
- Tell your doctor and the hospital you disagree. Ask why they think you're ready and whether follow-up care, such as skilled nursing or home health, is arranged.
- Call Commence Health right away. Dial 1-888-524-9900 (TTY 711) no later than the day you're scheduled to leave, before you leave the hospital. Have your Medicare number and the notice handy.
- Get the hospital's explanation. After you appeal, the hospital gives you a detailed notice explaining why it plans to discharge you.
- Wait for the decision. Commence Health's doctors review your records and decide within one day after they have the information they need. You can stay while they review.
- If you disagree with the decision. Follow the instructions in the decision letter to ask for the next level of review.
Tip: A family member or friend can call for you if you name them as your representative. Ohioans moved from a small hospital to a larger one in Columbus, Cleveland or Cincinnati have the same rights at the hospital that admitted them.
Other care that's ending
| Care | Notice | Deadline to call Commence Health |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital inpatient stay | Important Message from Medicare | By your planned discharge day |
| Skilled nursing, home health, hospice or outpatient rehabilitation (CORF) | Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage, at least 2 days before services end | By noon the day before the end date on the notice |
If you're under observation rather than admitted, you get a different notice (the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice), and different rules apply. Ask the hospital whether you're an inpatient.
Related questions
How do I appeal a Medicare denial in Ohio?
Claims and plan denials.
How can I help a parent with Medicare?
Speaking up for a parent.
Medicare phone numbers for Ohio
Official numbers.
More in Medicare appeals in Ohio and Ohio Medicare contacts.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Fast appeals (hospital discharge and services ending)
- CMS — Beneficiary and Family Centered Care QIOs (Commence Health, formerly Livanta)
- Commence Health — Ohio BFCC-QIO fact sheet (PDF)
More questions in this guide
- How can I help my parent with Medicare in Ohio?
- How do I appeal a Medicare denial in Ohio?
- How do I file a complaint about an insurance agent in Ohio?
- How do I find a licensed insurance agent for Medicare in Ohio?
- How do I find my area agency on aging in Ohio?
- How do I report Medicare fraud in Ohio?
- What are the Medicare phone numbers for Ohio?
- Where is the Social Security office near me in Ohio?
Part of the guide: Ohio Medicare contacts · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay for the extra days while the appeal is reviewed?
Medicare.gov says that if you ask on time, you can stay in the hospital while you wait and generally won't pay for the stay, apart from your usual deductibles or coinsurance. If Commence Health agrees you're ready, you may owe for days after its decision.
Does this work with a Medicare Advantage or MyCare Ohio plan?
Yes. People in Original Medicare and in Medicare Advantage plans, including MyCare Ohio plans that cover Medicare, get the Important Message from Medicare and can ask the BFCC-QIO for a fast appeal of a hospital discharge.
My notice says Livanta. Is it still valid?
Yes. Livanta changed its name to Commence Health in August 2025. It is still the BFCC-QIO for Ohio, and the phone number on older notices reaches it.
What about a nursing home or home health ending?
You'll get a Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage at least 2 days before covered skilled nursing, home health, hospice or outpatient rehabilitation services end. Call Commence Health by noon of the day before the end date on the notice.
Medicare in your Ohio county
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