News: CMS proposed revisions to discharge planning requirements

Hospitals could soon be required to develop a discharge plan within 24 hours of admission or registration, according to a report published by CMS on Oct. 29.

CMS is proposing revisions to the discharge planning requirements that hospitals must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. The proposed rule applies to all inpatients and certain types of outpatients, and would require hospitals and critical access hospitals to complete a discharge plan before the patient is discharged home or transferred to another facility.

In addition, hospitals would have to provide discharge instructions to all patients who are discharged home, have a medication reconciliation process, and establish a post-discharge follow-up process. For patients who are transferred to another facility, hospitals will be required to send medical infoprmation to the receiving facility.