Which of the following statements regarding hospital pre-admission authorization is NOT true?

The statement regarding hospital pre-admission authorization that is NOT true is that it encourages weekend admission. Pre-admission authorization is a process intended to evaluate the medical necessity of proposed hospital admissions and procedures before they occur. One of its primary goals is to ensure that the care is warranted based on clinical guidelines, which does not inherently promote admissions over the weekend or any specific time frame.

Hospital pre-admission authorization typically involves a thorough review of the patient's medical history, the proposed treatment, and any alternative options. This process often helps to identify procedures or services that may not be necessary, thus preventing unnecessary admissions regardless of the day of the week.

The other statements highlight the benefits of pre-admission authorization effectively. For example, it does ensure that procedures are medically necessary, which can lead to better patient care decisions. By confirming medical necessity, it can also contribute to minimizing the length of stay in the hospital, as unnecessary procedures or admissions are less likely to occur. Additionally, pre-admission authorization plays a significant role in cost control by preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and associated expenses, ultimately benefiting both health plans and patients.