New laws going into effect for nursing homes are causing concerns for nursing home owners. The laws address the necessity for patients to be seen by a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse prior to sending patients out to the hospital. The concerns come from the unlikelihood of a medical director on staff at any given moment for a patient to be seen.
Nursing home owners say the costs associated with bringing in a licensed professional are not covered by reimbursements. The desired compromise would be a licensed nurse. However, facilities that do not adhere to the new laws would be susceptible to fines. The CMS department is still allowing input and requesting feedback at this point. For more, read the story.
