CMS revised CoPs for hospital systems

May 16, 2014
Credentialing Resource Center Digest

Multi-hospital systems will be allowed to use a unified and integrated medical staff structure, according to revised Conditions of Participation (CoP) published this week by the CMS. The organization cited the lack of evidence that a unified medical staff model is detrimental to patients’ quality of care as a major factor in its decision to reverse its prohibition. The revised CoP allows hospitals and their staffs to choose between a single systemwide medical staff, or individual, independent medical staffs at each hospital.

CMS upheld its decision to allow a single governing body to oversee a multi-hospital system; however, it rescinded the requirement that a member of the medical staff must serve on the governing board. Instead, governing boards are required to consult with medical staff leadership of each hospital. 
Separately, CMS clarified that a hospital’s medical staff may include certain categories of physicians (as set out at § 482.12(c)) in accordance with state laws, including scope-of-practice laws; and non-physician practitioners who are eligible for appointment by the governing body.
The agency revised its Outpatient Services Conditions of Participation (CoP) to allow practitioners who are not on a hospital’s medical staff to order hospital outpatient services for their patients when authorized by the medical staff and allowed by state law.
These requirements will be effective July 11.

 

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