Greenville (S.C.) Memorial Hospital, part of Greenville Health System, is at risk of losing its Medicare contract following a CMS survey that found the hospital was not in compliance with some Medicare requirements.
CMS' contract with Greenville Memorial is slated to be terminated next month, according to a public notice the agency ran in the Greenville News. The notice, which was posted by Linda Smith, acting associate regional administrator division of survey and certification at CMS Region IV office in Atlanta, said Greenville Memorial is not in compliance with conditions of coverage, and Medicare will not make payment to the hospital for services provided to patients who are admitted after April 16.
In a statement on its website, Greenville Memorial said CMS surveyed the hospital after it notified CMS that it had identified "potential areas for improvement in the emergency department." The hospital said CMS determined it was not in compliance with Medicare rules related to nursing services, patient rights and governing body.
Scott M. Sasser, MD, chair of emergency medicine at Greenville Health System, said, "Nearly all action plan items have already been initiated, and we feel confident that CMS will find our plan — and its implementation — satisfactory."
The hospital said its action plan for its emergency department includes increasing staffing, providing more intensive training and improving clinical documentation processes around patient care.
More articles on healthcare finance:
Banner's plan to save $65M includes voluntary employee termination program
OIG: Sutter Health hospital's errors caused $5.4M in Medicare overpayments
5 states with the most rural hospital closures