HHS Streamlines Hospital Conditions of Participation

The federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed updates to its conditions of participation (CoP) for the estimated 4,900 hospitals and critical access hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. The changes were released on October 24, 2011 in a proposed rule. Many of the changes revise or revoke Medicare and Medicaid rules that have remained the same for decades; HHS seeks to reduce regulatory and procedural burdens—and the cost of complying with these regulations—on participating hospitals and critical access hospitals. A related proposed rule released the same day introduced new terminology and proposed additional . . .