sbellin Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 [h=1]Medicare’sviewpoint on mid-levels in rural areas is changing; though driven by finances. Currently rural health clinics are required tohave a physician present every two weeks and Critical Access Hospitals (CAH)must have a physician available in person when a mid-level is on call (PA orNP). This proposal allows more independentpractice in clinics and CAH. When I takecall a physician still has to be available in the community even though 99% ofthe time they never see the patient. This change would allow physicians to notbe present in a CAH ever but only to be available for consultation by some formof electronic communication and never show their face in a rural health clinic.Though my state law (Washington) follows CMS rules I would expect modification ofthe law if CMS changes their rules. Thischange should foster new respect and will open new opportunities for mid-levels.[/h][h=1]. [/h][h=1] [/h][h=1]Critical-access hospitals get breakon staffing[/h] By Ashok Selvam Posted:February 5, 2013 - 4:00 pm ET Tags: Barack Obama, Hospitals, Kathleen Sebelius, Not-For-Profit, Pharmaceuticals, Physicians, Rural Health, Staffing, Telemedicine The CMShas proposed reducing hospital staffing requirements at critical-accesshospitals, rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers, whichcould save those facilities as much as $676 million a year. The proposed rule, issued Monday (PDF), would eliminate therequirement that a physician be present at those facilities at least once everytwo weeks. The CMS called the ruled burdensome and outdated. “Many rural populations suffer from limited access to care due to a shortage ofhealthcare professionals, especially physicians,” the proposed rule read.“Recent improvements in, and expansion of, telemedicine services allow for physiciansto provide certain types of care to remote facilities at much less cost." [TABLE=class: MsoNormalTable] [TR] [TD=bgcolor: transparent] [TABLE=class: MsoNormalTable] [TR] [TD=width: 300, bgcolor: transparent] Advertisement | View Media Kit <image001.jpg> [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD=width: 20, bgcolor: transparent] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Related Articles More in: [Pharmaceuticals \/][Go] Critical-access hospitals get break onstaffingFox named CMO at MyoKardiaForging a new path More Pharmaceuticals Articles Theproposal, which revises a final rule issued in May, (PDF) is part of President BarackObama's 2011 executive order to reduce burdensome regulations. Other changes inthe rule include allowing dietitians to order patient diets without needing theapproval or supervision of a doctor or other clinician and allowing nuclearmedicine techs in hospitals to prepare radiopharmaceuticals without constantsupervision of physicians or pharmacists. “By eliminating outdated or overly burdensome requirements, hospitals andhealthcare professionals can focus on treating patients,” said HHS SecretaryKathleen Sebelius in a release. Both the American Hospital Association, whichrepresents not-for-profit hospitals, and the Federation of American Hospitals (PDF),which represents for-profit hospitals, lauded the proposed rule saying it freesup hospital resources. Another regulation eliminated by the proposed rule involved requirements thathospital governing boards retain a physician on their governing boards. The CMSinstead mandates boards to consult with physicians over matters including scopeof hospital services. “CMS recognized that the requirement was not feasible for all hospitals,” AHAPresident and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said in the release. “CMS revamped therequirements to focus on the need for good communication between governingboards and medical staff members about patient care.” The AHA singled out a requirement that multihospital systems with a singlegoverning body consult with each of the system's hospitals. “Hospitals aredelivering more coordinated, patient-centered care and CMS should not letantiquated organizational structures stand in the way,” Umbdenstock also said. http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20130205/NEWS/302059968/critical-access-hospitals-get-break-on-staffing?AllowView=VW8xUmo5Q21TcWJOb1gzb0tNN3RLZ0h0MWg5SVgra3NZRzROR3l0WWRMWGJWdjBFRWxiNUtpQzMyWmVwNTNrWUpicXBiUlF0emxjUTRXNmJRZk15Z0M2SHRaeXdYY3lsWHI4YkJydE8yNlAzTXFQNTd0MVpKc21ZdEZoNUE2QXlnbXdG Read more: Critical-access hospitals get break on staffing | ModernHealthcare http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20130205/NEWS/302059968#ixzz2KEB9KXfD ?trk=tynt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted February 8, 2013 Moderator Share Posted February 8, 2013 how about getting Medicare to allow PA's to order home health and VNA services - if you can run an ER and have a doc pop in once every two weeks shouldn't we be able to order a PT eval in the house? Seriously though this is a step in the right direction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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