AHA Supports Bill Allowing for General Supervision for Outpatient Services

The following announcement was released by the American Hospital Association (AHA):

The AHA today voiced support for S. 778, legislation that would allow general supervision by a physician or non-physician practitioner for many outpatient therapy services. Introduced last week by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), the bill would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to allow a default setting of general supervision, rather than direct supervision, for outpatient therapy services and create an advisory panel to establish an exceptions process for risky and complex outpatient services. The legislation would create a special rule for critical access hospitals that recognizes their unique size and Medicare conditions of participation. The bill also would hold hospitals and CAHs harmless from civil or criminal action for failing to meet CMS' current direct supervision policy for the period 2001 through 2011. "Although CMS claims its policy is a 'restatement and clarification' of existing policy, it is, in fact, a significant change that has left hospitals and CAHs vulnerable," AHA said in a letter of support for the legislation. The AHA also continues to urge the administration to address hospitals' concerns with the requirement.

Source: American Hospital Association