CMS again delays enforcement of two-midnight policy

CMS has extended a delay in the enforcement of Final Rule 1599-F by prolonging the probe and educate period. This is the third time CMS has delayed enforcement of the policy, which requires a patient to stay in the hospital for more than two midnights before CMS will reimburse a hospital at inpatient rates. The hospital provider community has lobbied against the rule since it was first proposed. In a statement released earlier this week, the American Hospital Association (AHA) lauded the CMS decision.

“This action clearly recognizes that there are still many unanswered questions about the policy. At the same time, we continue to urge CMS to fix the critical flaws of the underlying policy by immediately engaging stakeholders to find a workable solution that addresses the reasonable and necessary inpatient-level services currently provided by hospitals to Medicare beneficiaries that are not expected to span two midnights,” the AHA stated.

Source: AHA