A Comparative Evaluation of Inpatient Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Debility, Hip Fracture, and Myopathy

Although statistical differences exist, the functional recovery and rate of discharge home of older adult patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation with a primary debility diagnosis are essentially the same clinically as those of patients with a diagnosis of either hip fracture or myopathy. Given these findings, and given that hip fracture and myopathy are approved medical conditions according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 75% rule, the medical condition debility warrants consideration for inclusion as a qualifying medical diagnosis under this rule. However, further research is needed to develop relatively objective criteria for the debility diagnosis, and to identify those patients with debility who are most likely to benefit from inpatient rehabilitation.