Evaluation and management guidelines in Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code book define an established patient as an individual who has received professional services from the physician or another physician of the same specialty who belongs to the same group practice, within the past 3 years.

One who takes possession of the assets of a decedent, pays the expenses of administration and the claims of creditors, and disposes of the balance of an estate in accordance with the statutes governing the distribution of decedents’ estates.

Assertion of a right to assets or money from the estate of a deceased person. Each state has different time limits on filing a claim within a number of months from the date of death or date of publication of death. Also, each state has a different person or place where the claim should be filed such as court of probate, estate executor, or commissioner.

One who takes possession of the assets of a decedent, pays the expenses of administration and claims of creditors, and disposes of the balance of an estate in accordance with the decedent’s will.

Program or plan to prepare an individual’s estate on death. It is done to provide and conserve funds and assets that are to be given to heirs after death of the individual. Estate planning involves accountants, attorneys, trust officers of banks, insurance agents, and an estate administrator to carry out the wishes of the deceased.
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A process under which plans are made to accumulate and manage property during one’s lifetime and to dispose of it at one’s death.

Under the Medicaid program, recovery of financial assistance from certain deceased Medicaid recipients’ estates up to the amount spent by the state for all Medicaid services (e.g., nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for mentally retarded, home and community-based services, hospitals, prescription drug services). Federal law mandates that each state have an estate recovery program.

Average number of days of hospitalization required for a specific illness or procedure. These data are based on previous histories of patients who have been hospitalized for the same condition or procedure.