AHA recommends changes to proposed CMS rule for long-term care facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule to revise the requirements for long-term care facilities incorporates important themes and integrates many current best practices, AHA told the agency in comments submitted today. “At the same time, we have concerns about select proposed changes as well as the cost of implementing the new provisions,” wrote AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels. AHA urged the agency to clarify certain proposals related to resident rights, discharge planning, pharmacy services, use of contractors and behavioral health; and that a LTC facility owned by a hospital or health system can fulfill at least some quality assessment and performance improvement requirements by participating in a larger, system-based improvement program. AHA also called for a “full and accurate” estimate of the rule’s cost and a staggered implementation timeline.