The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule to relieve burden on providers by removing unnecessary, obsolete or excessive burdensome Medicare compliance requirements for facilities. Between 2018 and 2021, CMS is projecting savings of $1.12 billion annually if finalized. The 285-page rule would accomplish the following:
- Streamline hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgical center requirements for conducting comprehensive medical histories and physical assessment.
- Allow multi-hospital systems to have unified and integrated Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement programs.
- Simplify the ordering process and modernize the personnel requirements for portable x-rays.
- Remove duplicated ownership disclosure requirements for critical access hospitals.
Read the fact sheet for complete details. The proposed rule is part of CMS’s Patients Over Paperwork initiative started in 2017.
CMS welcomes feedback on the proposal and will accept comments until Nov. 19. Comments may be submitted electronically through the e-Regulation website
