Proposed rule would update Medicare, Medicaid CoPs for hospitals and CAHs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late today issued a proposed rule that would update and revise conditions of participation that hospitals and critical access hospitals must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. Among other provisions, the rule would require hospitals and CAHs to have hospital-wide infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship programs for the surveillance, prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and other infectious diseases, and for the appropriate use of antibiotics. CMS also proposes to require hospitals and CAHs to designate leaders of the infection prevention and control program and the antibiotic stewardship program, and to establish and implement a policy prohibiting discrimination. For more see the CMS factsheet. The proposed rule will be published in the June 16 Federal Register, and CMS will accept comments through Aug. 15. AHA members will receive more information on the proposed rule.