What is the consequence if the MSPQ is not completed for a Medicare patient?

If the MSPQ, or Medicare Secondary Payer Questionnaire, is not completed for a Medicare patient, the hospital risks losing its Medicare provider status. This is critical because the MSPQ is designed to ensure that Medicare is billed correctly, especially in situations where another payer might be responsible for covering the costs before Medicare. Properly completing the MSPQ helps to delineate the primary and secondary insurance responsibilities, which is necessary for compliance with Medicare regulations.

Failure to collect this information can lead to incorrect billing practices, and if the hospital is consistently found to be non-compliant with Medicare's requirements, it faces the possibility of losing its ability to participate in Medicare programs. This would significantly impact the hospital’s revenue and its obligation to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries.

The other choices do not accurately describe the consequences of not completing the MSPQ. For instance, the automatic approval of claims, patient discharge, or additional funding are not directly related to the completion of the MSPQ and do not reflect the regulatory requirements surrounding Medicare billing practices.