CMS releases final rule on discharge planning

Editor's Note

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on September 26 released a final rule that revises discharge planning requirements for hospitals, the September 26 Becker’s Clinical Leadership & Infection Control reports.

Among the requirements:

• Hospitals must prioritize patients’ care goals and treatment preferences during discharge planning.
• Hospitals must ensure that patients have electronic access to their medical records.
• Hospitals must help patients choose an appropriate post-acute care provider by giving them quality performance data of post-acute care facilities.

The rule allows patients to play an active role in their care transitions to ensure seamless coordination of care, CMS Administrator Seema Verma says.