CMS, Joint Commission adopt 2012 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Joint Commission on July 5 will begin using the 2012 version of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code in their accreditation surveys. The final CMS rule requires hospitals to follow the 2012 version of the…
CMS proposes two rules to simplify physician documentation requirements
Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 27 proposed two rules, scheduled to take effect in January 2017, that will ease physician documentation requirements. One rule makes changes to the “Meaningful Use” program. CMS is proposing to replace meaningful use with a new program that…
Olympus to pay $623.2 million to settle kickback allegations
Editor's Note Olympus Corporation (Center Valley, Pennsylvania) has agreed to pay $623.2 million to resolve civil and criminal allegations that it paid kickbacks to hospitals and physicians in exchange for purchasing its endoscopes and equipment, the March 1 Modern Healthcare reports. The government alleged that Olympus lacked training and didn’t…
HHS releases guidance on when HIPAA applies to mobile apps
Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released guidelines on how the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) applies to health information a patient creates or manages through a health app and when app developers are required to comply with HIPPA rules. The new…
Longer resident duty hours don’t affect patient safety
Editor's Note The flexibility for surgical residents to work longer shifts than currently allowed or take less time off between shifts to provide continuity of care was not associated with a greater risk of postoperative patient complications or death, a new study finds. There was also no significant difference in…
California issues new regs for outpatient surgery settings
Editor's Note California Senate Bill 396, designed to strengthen regulation of unlicensed outpatient surgery settings, goes into effect January 1, 2016, the Joint Commission reports. The Bill builds upon existing regulations that mandate facility accreditation of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and office-based surgery practices that are not state licensed or…
Connecticut voters unaware of new 6% tax on ASC procedures
Editor's Note When polled earlier this month, 79% of Connecticut voters did not know a 6% tax on ambulatory surgery center (ASC) procedures had been implemented as part of their new state budget, the West Hartford News reports. The tax, to be paid by service providers, could push 25% of…
OIG warns against using EHRs to block information
Editor's Note An Office of Inspector General (OIG) alert reminds healthcare professionals and hospitals that information blocking in health information technology (IT) is a problem, and steps to prevent interoperability of an electronic health record (EHR) platform or services with other IT systems is not subject to safe harbor protections…
CMS issues final rules on “meaningful use”
Editor's Note The Centers Medicare & Medicaid Services on October 6 released final rules on “meaningful use” for electronic health records. The rules cover three components of the electronic health records meaningful use program: It finalizes modifications to stages 1 and 2, covers requirements for stage 3, and it addresses the…
HVAC task force issues interim guide for OR, SPD
Editor's Note A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning task force on September 28 issued interim guidance to help health care facilities maintain appropriate temperature and humidity in ORs and sterile processing departments, AHA News reports. The interim guide was developed as the task force is working to achieve consensus on…
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