CMS to streamline survey process for psychiatric hospitals

Beginning in March, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will implement a streamlined survey and certification process for psychiatric hospitals, the agency announced today. Under the new process, state survey agencies will perform one comprehensive survey to review compliance with both hospital and psychiatric hospital participation requirements instead of two, allowing inspectors to take a broader view of a psychiatric hospital’s operations and better identify systemic quality issues, the agency said. “The policy of multiple inspections for psychiatric hospitals is emblematic of the absurd status quo in health care,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “For too long, fragmented and misaligned processes have increased burden and administrative costs.” For more on the announcement, see the CMS memorandum.