Medicare defines a benefit period as that period of time that begins the first day of a patient's admission to a hospital, and ends after he or she has been discharged for 60 consecutive days. There is no limit to the number of benefit periods a beneficiary can use, but there is a limit to the number of days of care for which a beneficiary may claim payment. Inpatient hospital care is normally limited to how many days during a benefit period?
1) 30 days
2) 60 days
3) 90 days
4) 120 days