CMS Proposed Rule on Discharge Planning

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have proposed to revise the discharge planning requirements that certain providers must meet in order to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.  The proposed rule specifically mentions Hospitals, including Long-Term Care Hospitals and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities, Critical Access Hospitals, and Home Health Agencies and we are looking to clarify whether other Leading Age New York members might be affected. According to CMS, the proposed changes would modernize the discharge planning requirements by bringing them into closer alignment with current practice, help to improve patient quality of care and outcomes, and reduce avoidable complications, adverse events, and readmissions.

The proposed rule would also implement the discharge planning requirements of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act), which will improve consumer transparency and beneficiary experience during the discharge planning process. The IMPACT Act requires hospitals, critical access hospitals, and certain post-acute care providers to use data on both quality and resource use measures to assist patients during the discharge planning process, while taking into account the patient’s goals of care and treatment preferences. 

The proposed rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Nov. 3, 2015 and will be followed by a 60 day comment period.

Contact;  Elliott Frost, efrost@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8832