MedPAC Recommends CMS Waive Direct Supervision Requirements

12 Sep MedPAC Recommends CMS Waive Direct Supervision Requirements

Since 2010, CMS has not enforced its direct supervision requirements in Critical Access Hospitals and other rural hospitals, according to a draft report released this month by MedPAC.  CMS says there have been no patient safety concerns raised to the agency about hospitals using inappropriate physician supervision, although MedPAC notes that the only way to monitor this would be through a “whistle-blower.” MedPAC made several recommendations to CMS about further clarifying the definition of “immediately available” and “interruptible” related to the current supervision requirement.  The CAH Coalition is working to have this requirement removed rather than simply postponed each year.