Friday, December 13, 2013

Small, Rural Health Facilities Would Suffer Under New Rules

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement after introducing H.R. 3769, to delay enforcement of physician supervision regulations at Critical Access Hospitals:
“While physician supervision requirements are less of a challenge for large hospitals, they can be very problematic in areas with few doctors.  Critical Access Hospitals simply do not have the man power and resources to abide by these arbitrary regulations.  I hope delaying enforcement of these rules, and an analysis of their impact will help regulators understand how destructive these requirements would be for rural providers. 
“Physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff in rural facilities are highly experienced in determining the appropriate level of patient care.  They must be given the flexibility to provide affordable and efficient health care.”
Physician supervision rules require a physician’s presence and supervision over nearly all routine procedures administered in hospitals.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) previously delayed enforcement of this rule for Critical Access Hospitals, however, last month the agency announced it would begin to enforce the rule at all hospitals.
Critical Access Hospitals are designated as small, remote facilities providing 24-hour care.  There are more than fifty Critical Access Hospitals in Nebraska’s Third Congressional District.
Congressman Smith’s legislation would delay this physician supervision rule for at least one year for Critical Access Hospitals, and until CMS completes an analysis of the impacts of this regulation.

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