Addressing Costly and Burdensome Regulations
Hospital regulations are important to ensure
that patients receive safe, high-quality care. However, there are a growing
number of new or revised regulations that are costly, create barriers to
innovation, and add administrative burdens that take providers away from the
bedside.
HAP works to find a balance between
appropriate oversight and regulatory overreach, and advocates for flexibility
so that providers can provide the right care, at the right time, and in the
right setting.
Pennsylvania hospitals must
comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Medicare and
Medicaid Conditions of Participation in order to receive federal reimbursement
for services. CMS periodically updates these regulations, which affect hospital
boards, medical staff and nursing services, medical records, outpatient
services, and infection prevention control.
At the state level, the
General Assembly passes laws affecting hospitals and health care that, when
implemented through regulation, also impact hospitals’ daily operations. HAP
has been working with state regulators to update hospital licensure regulations
that are extremely outdated and no longer align with modern medical care.