In a recent change to the way that skilled nursing facilities are regulated, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a declaration of blanket waivers for SNFs.
This move is intended to provide more flexibility for SNFs as they work to improve the quality of care. In this article, we will look at what this means for SNFs and their patients.
What Does This Mean?
The main change that the declaration of blanket waivers for SNFs brings is a loosening of the restrictions on how facilities can care for their patients.
Specifically, CMS has waived the requirements that:
Patients must be under the care of a physician
Nurses must be available at all times
There must be a certain number of staff members present during each shift
In addition, CMS has also waived the requirement that SNFs provide services in accordance with their state's licensure requirements.
What Does This Mean for SNFs?
The declaration of blanket waivers for SNFs provides more flexibility for facilities in terms of how they operate.
This means that SNFs will have more freedom to experiment with new ways of providing care, and they will not be as restricted by the rules and regulations that have been in place up until now.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
The main benefit of the declaration of blanket waivers for SNFs is that it will allow facilities to provide better quality care.
SNFs will be able to tailor their services to meet the needs of their patients, and they will not have to worry about violating any rules or regulations.
In addition, the waiving of state licensure requirements means that patients will have access to a wider range of services, as SNFs will no longer be limited by what their state allows them to offer.
Need Help Navigating This Change?
As you can see, this new rule will impact medical facilities across the country. If you need help getting up to speed, we'd love to speak to you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
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