Several ambulatory endoscopy suites have been cited for failure to meet new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' requirements for history and physicals prior to procedures, which has prompted the American Gastroenterological Association to investigate the citations, according to an AGA news release.
According to the CMS requirement, which went into effect on Dec. 31, 2009, the medical history and physical should be completed no more than 30 days prior to the procedure and should be available in the patient's record and reviewed by the physician prior to the procedure. The AGA is looking into whether this precludes examinations performed the day of surgery.
The AGA received several communications from members that their centers had been cited for failing to meet the requirement and is currently investigating whether the citations were due to misinterpretation of surveyors or a change in CMS policy.
The revised ASC requirements are available on the ASC Association's Web site (pdf).
Read the release about the history and physicals requirements.