RIN Data

This proposed rule would reform the requirements that long-term care facilities must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, that  CMS has identified as unnecessary, obsolete, or excessively burdensome on facilities. This rule would increase the ability of healthcare professionals to devote resources to improving resident care by eliminating or reducing requirements that impede quality care or that divert resources away from providing high quality care.

Statement of Need:

CMS is committed to transforming the healthcare delivery system, and the Medicare program, by putting an additional focus on patient-centered care and working with providers, physicians, and patients to improve outcomes. We seek to reduce burdens for long-term care facilities; healthcare professionals and residents; improve the quality of care; decrease costs; and, ensure that residents and their providers are making the best healthcare choices possible.   

We are therefore proposing revisions to the requirements that long-term care facilities must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that would increase the ability of healthcare professionals to devote resources to improving resident care by eliminating or reducing requirements that impede quality care or that divert resources away from providing high quality care.

Summary of the Legal Basis:

This proposed rule is in accordance with the January 30, 2017 Executive Order Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs (E.O. 13771).

Alternatives:

For all of the proposed provisions, we considered not making these changes. Specifically, we considered the impact that any revisions would have on the health and safety of residents in long-term care facilities and if such revisions would realistically be burden reducing for facilities. Ultimately, we believe that the proposed revisions will be burden reducing and do not impede on the health and safety of residents. 

Anticipated Costs and Benefits:

This proposed rule would create ongoing cost savings to long-term care facilities in many areas. In addition, various proposals would clarify existing policy and relieve some administrative burdens.

Risks:

Our estimates of the effects of this regulation are subject to significant uncertainty. While we are confident that these reforms would provide flexibilities to facilities that will yield major cost savings, there are uncertainties about the magnitude of these effects.