Stark rule revision released
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted the final rule to its web site [678 kB PDF], which interprets Stark Law requirements governing referrals physicians make to facilities in which they have a financial interest.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services update rules for ambulatory surgical centers’ Medicare participation
CMS is planning one of the biggest changes in years to its rules for letting ambulatory surgical centers to participate in Medicare. The proposed rules, considered perhaps the largest change in ASC rules since 1982, cover a broad range of operating issues and if approved will have a substantial effect on the industry. The changes are likely to be well-received by hospitals, which have often been critical that the centers were competing for their business without being accountable to their requirements. Some of the major changes are:
- CMS would be required to create a more comprehensive quality assessment and performance improvement program for ASCs. This would follow the rules expanding infection control requirements and a comprehensive pre-surgery patient assessment.
- The agency would have to develop a disaster preparedness plan to address emergency-response capabilities within ambulatory surgical centers.
- The proposal would include provisions making sure radiology services rules match up with rules for furnishing laboratory services.
- The rules would also impact the way in which ASCs disclosed physicians’ financial interests in the facility
Joint Commission study shows abbreviations cause five percent of drug errors
Prescription abbreviations generated about five percent of all medication errors between 2004 and 2006, according to a Joint Commission study. Researchers with the Joint Commission studied 643,151 total medication errors reported through medication error-reporting program Medmarx. Of those, the Commission said 4.7 percent (or 29,974 errors) happened because of the use of abbreviations. The abbreviation most frequently associated with errors was “qd,” substituted for “once daily.” This abbreviation is on a Joint Commission list of “do not use” abbreviations. Joint Commission Resources
FDA, DOD partner to improve safety monitoring
The Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Defense have signed a data-sharing agreement, allowing the DOD to share electronic medical records of 9.1 million military personnel and their families. The FDA will use the data to improve its monitoring of prescription drug safety and efficacy. Government Health IT
Revisiting HIPPA
Take a minute to listen to this NPR Audio Report by Joanne Silberner regarding HIPPA and some of the challenges that the law did not address.
