The CMS draft guidance for state survey agency directors on hospital co-location arrangements offers insight into how CMS will evaluate hospitals that partner with other providers under the Medicare conditions of participation, or CoPs. Co-location occurs when two hospitals or a hospital and another healthcare entity are located on the same campus or in the same building and share space, staff, or services. Areas that CMS will review when surveying co-located facilities include staffing, contracted services, distinct and shared spaces, and emergency services.
In an unanticipated but welcome move, CMS is soliciting comments on the draft guidance by July 2. Stakeholders should be sure to use this opportunity to raise their compliance concerns associated with the proposed rules governing shared space and staffing arrangements under the Medicare program.
Read the full LawFlash for more details on the draft guidance.