CMS Releases Final Two-Midnight Rule

CMS on Friday finalized its two-midnight rule without making any changes to the regulation. Under the final rule, hospital admissions must be initiated by a physician's signed order and quality improvement organizations will be the first to review shorter patient claims, instead of recovery audit contractors. Meanwhile, RACs will be directed to focus on claims from hospitals with unusually high rates of denied submissions.

• "Final Two-Midnight Rule Dismisses Suggestions on 'Physician Judgment'" (Dickson, Modern Healthcare, 10/30).