Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which of the following is not covered by Medicare Part A?

1. Inpatient hospitalizations

2. Medicines administered to a patient while hospitalized

3. Nursing home care

4. Surgeons

The correct answer is: Nursing home care

Medicare Part A primarily covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care. Among the options provided, nursing home care, or custodial care, is generally not covered by Medicare Part A. It is important to note that while Part A does cover post-hospitalization skilled nursing facility care for a limited time, it does not cover long-term stays in nursing homes when the services provided are not considered skilled care. In contrast, inpatient hospitalizations and medications administered while a patient is hospitalized are both covered under Medicare Part A. When patients are admitted to a hospital, the associated treatment and medications are included as part of their inpatient care. Surgeons, while they provide care that can be covered under Medicare, would not be directly covered under Part A; rather, their services may be reimbursed under Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient services and provider visits. Therefore, the correct choice reflects the specific limitations of coverage under Medicare Part A, particularly regarding long-term custodial care in nursing homes, confirming it is not covered under this part of the Medicare program.