ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
Who Will Speak for Your Practice In the EMTALA Advisory Group?
CMS wants viewpoints from patient advocates, hospitals and physicians You could have a hand in shaping hospitals'responsi-bilities under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is taking your nominations for a technical advisory group that could change how physicians and hospitals manage emergency department patients. According to the May 28 Federal Register, the following representatives will make up the advisory group: Send nominations to CMS by July 12, 2004. To read the notice go to http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a040528c.html.
CMS claims the advisory group, which the reform bill mandates, will go a long way toward striking a regulatory balance among patients, hospitals and physicians. "Last year, the department took an important first step by clarifying and simplifying our EMTALA regulations to protect patient rights and give clear guidance to providers. I have every expectation that this advisory group will have additional ideas for us to further improve the regulations," said CMS Administrator Mark McClellan.
ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
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