The OIG has released the 2017 Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations, summarizing prioritized recommendations relating to HHS programs and operations.   Topping the list are recommendations relating to hospitals, including:

• Reimbursement rates for critical access hospital swing beds should be adjusted to the lower rates for similar services provided in skilled nursing facilities.
• Reimbursement rates for hospital outpatient department procedures should be adjusted to the lower rates for similar procedures conducted in ambulatory surgical centers.
• Medicare should adopt a hospital transfer payment policy to lower hospital reimbursement for beneficiaries who are discharged early to hospice care.
• CMS and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality should take steps to reduce harm to patients in rehabilitation hospitals.
• CMS should increase protections for beneficiaries under the 2-midnight policy that applies to hospitals decisions about a beneficiary’s inpatient or outpatient admission status.
• The disparity in beneficiary coinsurance for outpatient services received at a critical access hospital versus an acute-care hospital should be reduced.

Continue Reading OIG Publishes Prioritized Recommendations for HHS