CMS Delays Audits Under New Inpatient Admissions Rule
In guidance released last week, CMS instructed Medicare's recovery audit contractors to wait until Dec. 31 to scrutinize short inpatient stays after a rule on Medicare inpatient admissions takes effect on Oct. 1. The rule would implement a time-based presumption period for medically necessary inpatient care where an admission would be deemed appropriate for payment if a physician expects that treatment will require a two-night hospital stay. The announcement came after more than 100 House members sent a letter to CMS last Tuesday requesting a six-month delay to the rule.
- "Auditors Will Delay Scrutiny of 'Two-Midnight' Rule: CMS" (Carlson, Modern Healthcare, 9/26).