The AHA today submitted comments on a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed rule revising several Medicare Conditions of Participation for hospitals and critical access hospitals. Among other provisions, CMS proposes to adopt specific non-discrimination language for the CoPs, and require hospitals and CAHs to have antibiotic stewardship programs. The AHA supports many of CMS’s proposals but urges the agency to make several revisions “to improve clarity and ensure the final standards are practical and effective in meeting desired outcomes,” wrote AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels. For example, AHA urged the agency to provide technical assistance to help CAHs implement the new programs, and at least a year for CAHs to come into compliance with the requirements. It also urged CMS to carefully review the rule’s potential overlap with other laws, regulations and pending rules “to ensure alignment across the numerous requirements imposed on hospitals and their clinicians.”

Related News Articles

Headline
The Joint Commission June 30 announced a new, streamlined process that removes 714 requirements from its hospital accreditation program. The new program,…
Headline
The AHA June 16 released a fact sheet with analysis on the impact to rural patients and hospitals from proposed Medicaid cuts by Congress. The analysis found…
Headline
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission June 13 released its June report to Congress that outlines recommendations for hospital and other Medicare payment…
Headline
Data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows that health care cuts under…
Headline
The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration, will host a five-part learning series…
Headline
The latest video in the AHA’s series “Medicaid: Real Lives, Real Care” features Jennifer Clowers, regional chief financial officer of Our Lady of the Lake…