Quality News Update
CMS releases final 2012 OPPS and ESRD rules
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently issued a final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for the hospital outpatient prospective payment system and ambulatory surgical centers for calendar year 2012. In addition to updating OPPS payments by 1.9%, the final rule extends through 2012 the period of non-enforcement of the direct supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services for critical access hospitals and small rural hospitals. This is intended to give CMS time to put in place an expanded Ambulatory Payment Classification Panel to make independent recommendations to the agency regarding the appropriate supervision level for individual hospital outpatient therapeutic services.
CMS also revised its proposal for the inpatient Value-Based Purchasing program under Medicare. Specifically, the agency will not include the hospital-acquired condition measures, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality composite measures, or the efficiency measure for the fiscal year 2014 VBP program. The AHA commends CMS for recognizing that this process is important to protect hospitals and their patients from flawed measures.
Joint Commission (JC) to offer coordinated hospital accreditation and ISO certification option
The JC has partnered with SGS, a public company, to offer hospitals and critical access hospitals the option of pursing both accreditation and certification to various ISO and industry best practice standards beginning in January 2012. As you may know, ISO standards address consistency and reliability in management systems to meet established requirements. JC standards address quality and safety enhancing requirements. The coordinated approach may help organizations maximize value through improved operating systems. To read more, click here.
Joint Commission to launch Healing Healthcare Partnership November 16, 2011
Not to be confused with the CMS Partnership for Patients, the JC will be issuing a press release on November 16, 2011 regarding the launch of their Healing Healthcare Partnership. As background, JC offers targeted solution tools at no charge on a variety of topics for accredited organizations. For the hospitals that have been involved in using these tools, JC will be seeking permission from the participating hospitals to recognize them on the JC website. In addition, JC is inviting other accredited hospitals to commit to the partnership and access the available tools as needed. The targeted solution tools include topics on hand hygiene, handoffs of care, infection prevention and most recently, falls and readmissions. To find out more, click here.
New Patient Portal at The Oregon Patient Safety Commission
The OPSC has recently redesigned their website. Along with the redesign is the addition of a patient portal: tools and tips to empower patients with healthcare decisions. Patients or families with a care concern can find help in addressing that concern. This patient portal is a result of discussions/recommendations from the 2011 legislative session around SB 207. To read more, click here.
The OPSC is not trying to become a hospital risk manager; however, is redirecting patients & families back to the care facility or to the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Health Care Regulation & Quality Improvement office as appropriate.
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