Certified Inpatient Coding (CIC) Practice Exam

What part of Medicare primarily covers inpatient care?

1. Part B

2. Part C

3. Part D

4. Part A

The correct answer is: Part A

Medicare Part A is specifically designed to cover inpatient care. This includes services provided during a hospital stay, such as room and board, nursing services, and other hospital services and supplies necessary for treatment. Part A generally covers hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and some home health care services after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay. In contrast, Medicare Part B primarily covers outpatient care, such as physician services, preventive measures, and other medically necessary services not covered by Part A. Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is a bundled plan that includes coverage from both Part A and Part B, often including additional services but is not exclusively for inpatient care. Finally, Part D focuses on prescription drug coverage, which does not pertain to inpatient care at all. Therefore, Part A is the correct option as it is the part of Medicare specifically aimed at covering inpatient services.