CMS waiver helps physicians obtain and retain privileges

CMS announced it is waiving requirements to allow for physicians whose privileges will expire to continue practicing at the hospital and for new physicians to be able to practice before full medical staff/governing body review and approval. This latest waiver is another step CMS is taking to increase the physician workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. CMS said it is waiving requirements under §482.22(a) (1)-(4) regarding details of the credentialing and privileging process.

Under §482.22(a), the medical staff must periodically conduct appraisals of its members, examine the credentials of candidates for medical staff membership, and make recommendations to the governing body on the appointment of the candidates.

Although the CMS requirements do not specify a length of initial appointment and/or privileges, it recommends that in the absence of a state law that establishes a time frame for periodic reappraisal, an appraisal should be conducted at least every 24 months for each practitioner. After the medical staff conducts its reappraisal of individual members, the medical staff makes recommendations to the governing body to continue, revise, discontinue, limit, or revoke some or all of the practitioner’s privileges, and the governing body takes final appropriate action.

Additionally, under normal circumstances, CMS does not allow for an expedited process; only the full governing body has the authority to grant a practitioner privileges. However, with this waiver, new physicians will be be able to practice before full governing body review and approval. 

The waiver has a retroactive date of March 1, 2020 and remains in effect through the end of the emergency declaration.