CMS threatens to disrupt PA hospital admitting process.

[Mastersoldier13]

The AAPA recently sent notification to all constituent chapters that “obscure language tucked into a 2,225-page regulatory rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) threatens to disrupt the important role of PAs and other qualified licensed practitioners in the hospital admissions process by mandating new requirements that limit the ability of PAs and NPs to admit patients.

 

*

 

The rule, contained in the fiscal year 2014 Policy and Payment Changes for Inpatient Stays in Acute-Care and Long-Term Care Hospitals (see section 412.3 Admissions on p. 1,896), scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Aug. 19, prohibits physicians from delegating the authority to admit patients to hospitals. By removing this long-standing authority from the physician-PA team, CMS will cause access problems for patients who need to be hospitalized when no physician is physically present at the hospital. The problem will be exacerbated in hospitals in rural and other medically underserved communities. AAPA sent an official letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius expressing its serious concerns over the impact of the rule.

It is now time for you as a PA in New York to join PAs nationwide and express yourself to CMS on this issue by sending CMS your opinion, including personal examples of how this ruling would affect patient care. Your job could be affected so it is very important that the CMS hears from you and many, many other PAs. Also review the AAPA website for information and updates. If you are a hospital-based PA you should also send this to your hospital leadership so they can reach out to CMS via the e-mail address below as if this not reversed, it could be VERY detrimental to patient care, hospital throughput and* physician and patient satisfaction.**

 

*

 

Send your opinion today to:*

 

IPPSadmissions@cms.hhs.gov

[MedicinePower]

This does sound bad. I wonder if there might be some confusion as to the reading or interpretation of the proposed rule?

[polarbebe]

This does sound bad. I wonder if there might be some confusion as to the reading or interpretation of the proposed rule?

 

Per AAPA, this new regulation will go into effect October 1st, endangering patient safety by delaying hospital admissions and necessary care.

 

It restricts our privileges, limiting employment opportunities potentially in rural areas since physicians will no longer be able to delegate the authority to admit patients to PAs.

 

I have emailed CMS regarding this very important issue for all PAs.

[bradtPA]

I just sent my letter to my Congressman and Senators....