The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final regulations for the inpatient prospective payment system final rule for FY09 on July 31. The final rules provide long-awaited clarification and guidance for hospital on-call requirements under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act as it relates to community call plans.
Under the final rule, a community plan is defined as two or more hospitals that coordinate on-call coverage within a specific geographic area. Participating hospitals must designate the facility that will offer specific coverage; the other participating hospitals would then transfer patients requiring the designated care to that facility. Hospitals are also required to establish the time period this coordinated on-call coverage is in effect. Under the rule, they will also be required to develop a formal plan that includes a clear delineation of on-call responsibilities for each hospital participating in the plan, a description of the geographic area covered by the plan, and an annual assessment of the plan by the participating hospitals. Download the final rule.
