The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed today to revise the discharge planning requirements for hospitals.
Here are five highlights:
1. If the revisions are approved, hospitals, including long-term care hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, critical access hospitals and home health agencies, would have to meet the requirements to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
2. CMS' proposed changes would update the planning requirements by aligning them with current practices, enhancing patient quality of care outcomes as well as minimize avoidable complications, adverse events and readmissions.
3. Hospitals would be mandated to create a discharge plan based on the goals, preferences and needs of each applicable patient. Hospitals would have to devise a plan within 24 hours of admission or registration as well as complete a discharge plan before the patient is discharged home or transferred to a different facility.
4. The revisions require hospitals to provide discharge instructions to patient discharged to home and have a medication process to enhance patient safety. Hospitals will have to send specific medication information, for those patients transferred to another facility, to the receiving facility.
5. Additionally, the revisions require hospitals to establish a post-discharge follow-up process.
"CMS is proposing a simple but key change that will make it easier for people to take charge of their own healthcare. If this policy is adopted, individuals will be asked what's most important to them as they choose the next step in their care – whether it is a nursing home or home care," said CMS acting administrator Andy Slavitt. "Policies like this put real meaning behind the words consumer-centered healthcare."
More healthcare news:
8 tips from an expert panel on transitioning into the ASC administrator role
Strategies for physician wealth management and retirement planning
Best pre- and post-visit RCM practices for your ASC