CMS proposes broad rollback of hospital and nursing home participation rules
CMS has proposed a deregulatory rule that would roll back a range of Medicare and Medicaid Conditions of Participation for hospitals and nursing homes. Fierce Healthcare and Becker's report that it follows a CMS review to find obsolete or excessively burdensome rules. The proposal would reverse some obstetric requirements for hospitals, including a staff training requirement, and would exempt certain critical access hospitals from distance requirements. Fierce reports CMS estimates about $320 million in savings and 3.26 million staff hours freed up, with a 60-day public comment period.
Why it's notable: Conditions of Participation set the baseline compliance obligations for any facility billing Medicare or Medicaid. If finalized, the changes would alter what hospitals and critical access hospitals must staff, document and report. The figures are CMS's own estimates and the rule is only proposed.