HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced two final rules designed to reduce unnecessary, obsolete or burdensome regulations on the healthcare system, including the elimination of infection control regulations for ambulatory surgical centers.
The first rule revises the Medicare Conditions of Participation for hospitals and critical access hospitals. CMS estimates that annual savings to hospitals and CAHs will be approximately $940 million per year. The second, the Medicare Regulatory Reform rule, will produce savings of $200 million in the first year by promoting efficiency. This rule eliminates duplicative, overlapping and outdated regulatory requirements for health care providers.
Specific changes under the final rules include the following:
• Increased flexibility for hospitals by allowing one governing body to oversee multiple hospitals in a single health system.
• CAHs to partner with other providers so they can be more efficient and ensure safe and timely care.
• All eligible candidates, including advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants, be reviewed by medical staff for potential appointment to the hospital medical staff and then be granted all of the privileges, rights and responsibilities accorded to appointed medical staff members.
• ASCs are no longer required to keep a detailed list of emergency equipment. The current list includes outdated terminology as well as equipment that are not suitable for ASCs that furnish minor procedures that do not require anesthesia.
• ASCs are no longer required to establish an infection prevention and reporting program, as these requirements became a CMS condition for coverage.
The two rules are part of President Obama's regulatory reform initiative to reduce unnecessary burdens on business and save nearly $1.1 billion across the healthcare system in the first year and more than $5 billion over five years.
The first rule revises the Medicare Conditions of Participation for hospitals and critical access hospitals. CMS estimates that annual savings to hospitals and CAHs will be approximately $940 million per year. The second, the Medicare Regulatory Reform rule, will produce savings of $200 million in the first year by promoting efficiency. This rule eliminates duplicative, overlapping and outdated regulatory requirements for health care providers.
Specific changes under the final rules include the following:
• Increased flexibility for hospitals by allowing one governing body to oversee multiple hospitals in a single health system.
• CAHs to partner with other providers so they can be more efficient and ensure safe and timely care.
• All eligible candidates, including advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants, be reviewed by medical staff for potential appointment to the hospital medical staff and then be granted all of the privileges, rights and responsibilities accorded to appointed medical staff members.
• ASCs are no longer required to keep a detailed list of emergency equipment. The current list includes outdated terminology as well as equipment that are not suitable for ASCs that furnish minor procedures that do not require anesthesia.
• ASCs are no longer required to establish an infection prevention and reporting program, as these requirements became a CMS condition for coverage.
The two rules are part of President Obama's regulatory reform initiative to reduce unnecessary burdens on business and save nearly $1.1 billion across the healthcare system in the first year and more than $5 billion over five years.
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