CMS recently updated the star ratings on the Hospital Compare  website to help millions of patients and their families learn about the quality of hospitals, compare facilities in their area side-by-side,...
The Joint Commission recently announced new Medication Management standard, MM.09.01.01 for hospitals, critical access hospitals, and nursing care centers. This new standard addresses antimicrobial stewardship and becomes effective January 1,...
Question:
Is there a CMS regulation that requires a critical access hospital’s patient care policies and procedures to be approved by the governing body?
Answer:
Yes, the Governing Body of a Critical Access Hospital or...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced several new actions to combat the nation’s opioid epidemic. The actions include:
Expanding access to buprenorphine, a medication to...
The 2016 Leadership Summit will provide an opportunity for healthcare leaders to discuss critical issues affecting their organizations. The Leadership Summit will offer strategies and tools to aid healthcare organizations...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing updated payment rates and policy changes in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment...
QUESTION:
Are Joint Commission accredited hospitals required to have antimicrobial stewardship programs?
ANSWER:
Yes. Under the new Medication Management standard MM.09.01.01, hospitals are required to have an antimicrobial stewardship program. This standard is...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a new rule that expands access to analyses and data that will help providers, employers, and others make more informed...
QUESTION:
Is there a process for requesting access to an investigational drug outside of a clinical trial?
ANSWER:
Yes. The US Food and Drug Administration has a process for expanded access. Expanded access...