Medicare Fast Appeal Kit: Hospital Discharge and Rehab Ending Too Soon, Phone Scripts, Letters, Deadline Tracker

The hospital says it is time to go home. The rehab center says Medicare stops paying Friday. Your parent is not ready. You have more rights than most families know, and the clock is in hours.

Free copies available. Medical paperwork often lands when money is already stretched. That's not your fault. If paying isn't possible right now, email thedenialdesk@gmail.com with the subject "Free kit" and tell us which kit. You don't need to explain why. Please don't include medical details, diagnoses, bills or insurance numbers. Limit one free kit per email address.

Free updates: when a rule or date changes, your download link gets the updated file.

People with Medicare can ask for a free, fast review by an independent reviewer, called the BFCC-QIO, when they think a hospital discharge is too early or rehab, home health or hospice care is ending too soon. The deadlines are short. In a hospital, ask no later than the day you're scheduled to leave. In other settings, ask by noon the day before services end. Your notice gives the exact deadline and the phone number to call. (Medicare.gov)

WHAT YOU GET

• Start here guide (PDF, 7 pages). Which notice you have and your exact deadline, step by step for hospital discharges and for rehab, home health, or hospice ending, Medicare Advantage denials, what to say on the phone, and myths that cost families money.
• Scripts and letters (Word, opens in Google Docs). Two fast appeal phone scripts that double as written requests, a fast reconsideration letter for Medicare Advantage, a support letter request for the doctor or therapist, and a records request.
• Care tracker (Excel, opens in Google Sheets). Pick your notice and it shows your deadline. Includes a daily care log to document what care is still needed, and a call log.

WHO IT IS FOR

People with Medicare and the family members who help them, especially adult children caring for a parent.

HOW IT WORKS

This is an instant digital download. Nothing will be shipped.

This kit is self-serve. It doesn't include personal help with your case. For free one-on-one help, see Who will help me for free?

The guide (PDF) reads fine on a phone. The letters and tracker are easiest on a computer, or open them free in Google Docs and Sheets.

SOURCES

- Fast appeal deadlines and how to ask: Medicare.gov, Fast appeals (medicare.gov/providers-services/claims-appeals-complaints/appeals/fast-appeals).

- Hospital discharge notice (Important Message from Medicare) and services-ending notice (NOMNC): CMS beneficiary notices (cms.gov/medicare/forms-notices/beneficiary-notices-initiative).

- Skilled nursing denial numbers: HHS Office of Inspector General, OEI-09-24-00331, 2026.

PLEASE NOTE

This is general educational information, not legal or medical advice. Always follow the deadlines printed on your own notice. The Denial Desk is not affiliated with Medicare, any hospital, any health plan, or any government agency. For personal use only.

AI disclosure: This kit was drafted with help from AI tools, then reviewed and fact-checked by our founder, a certified medical coding professional.