Long term care: issues for physicians

Physicians who treat patients residing in SNFs and ICFs must be sensitive to a variety of legal issues that arise out of the unique characteristics of those patients and the manner in which their care is financed. Issues of particular interest to attending physicians which this article addresses include "level of care" certification requirements, review of hospital admissions by federally mandated peer review organizations, and decisions to discontinue life-sustaining treatment for terminally ill patients.