Intermediate care

1. Level of medical care for certain chronically ill or disabled individuals in which room and board are provided but skilled nursing care is not. Intermediate care is provided in a step-down unit that is also called an intermediate care unit . 2. Short-term care provided by many long-term facilities that may include rehabilitation services and care for certain conditions (stroke and diabetes) or postsurgical care. The goal is to discharge the patient to his or her home or to a lower level of care. Sometimes called postacute care, subacute care , or transitional care .
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A level of care associated with a skilled nursing facility which provides nursing care under the supervision of physicians or a registered nurse. The care provided is a step down from the degree of care described as skilled nursing care.

Intermediate entities

Entities that contract between a managed care organization (MCO) or one of its subcontractors and a physician or physician group, other than physician groups themselves. An independent practice association (IPA) is considered to be an intermediate entity if it contracts with one or more physician groups in addition to contracting with individual physicians.

Intermediate repair

Physical restoration of damaged tissue when the wound requires layered closure of one or more of the deeper layers of subcutaneous tissue and superficial (nonmuscle) fascia, in addition to the skin (epidermal and dermal) closure. Single-layer closure of heavily contaminated wounds that have required extensive cleaning or removal of particulate matter also constitutes intermediate repair and can be coded as such.

Intermediate unit

Hospital unit where patients are kept who do not require intensive care but who are not yet ready to be kept in a regular medical-surgical unit or are not ready to be released to independent care at home. Also called step-down unit .

internal control number (ICN)

Number assigned by Medicare carriers to each insurance claim for control and inventory purposes. This number is composed of 15 digits, which indicate the claim type, region, year, Julian date, batch number, and sequence. This number should be referenced when communicating with the insurance carrier about a specific claim problem.