Federal regulators have thrown weight behind ensuring that patients have a more active role in their care transitions. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently drafted compliance guidance for hospitals on the topic.
Under the guidance, OIG requires hospitals to share a list of Medicare-certified home health providers that serve a patient’s geographic area. The goal is to make sure patients’ freedom to select a home health provider is being honored.
In general, OIG’s guidance falls in line with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s 2019 updates to the discharge planning requirements for home health providers.