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CMS' Conditions of Participation revision could send you back to the drawing board

Health Care Auditing Strategies, February 1, 2007

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Agency makes changes to H&Ps, verbal orders, security of medication, and postanesthesia evaluations

New rules from CMS on its Conditions of Participation (COP) may have you adding another item to your work plan this year.

In November 2006, the agency released its final rule revising requirements in the hospital COPs for completion of history and physical (H&P) examinations, authentication of verbal orders, securing medications, and completion of postanesthesia evaluations.

In a November 28, 2006, news release, CMS Administrator Leslie V. Norwalk, Esq., said the final rule addresses concerns that the old regulations were outdated and burdensome.

"We always want to make sure that Medicare beneficiaries receive the best possible healthcare, and one important way to do that is to provide rules and guidelines that enable providers to operate smoothly and efficiently," Norwalk stated. "We think these changes will better serve the healthcare industry as a whole."

Although the final rule may relieve weight from the shoulders of some of your colleagues, it could inadvertently put the weight back on you.

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login.

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